The Change Mariner

TVs to Be Able to Receive Digital Signals

Guardian Unlimited

All but the smallest new televisions will have to be able to receive digital TV signals by July 2007 under a government rule upheld by a federal appeals court on Tuesday.

The makers of TVs, VCRs and DVD players tried to block the Federal Communications Commission rule, saying it would make sets more expensive and was unnecessary because cable and satellite viewers don't need the tuners.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the FCC, which said the requirement was needed because the industry was not moving quickly enough to make tuners available.

The tuners will be needed to receive over-the-air broadcasts after the nation switches from analog to digital signals. Congress has set a goal of December 2006 for the change.

Circuit Judge John G. Roberts wrote that despite the timeline, the FCC had found that ``a logjam was blocking the development of digital TV.''

``Broadcasters are unwilling to provide more DTV programming because most viewers do not own DTV equipment, and the lack of attractive DTV programming makes consumers reluctant to invest in more DTV equipment,'' he wrote.

Posted by Norm M. Wada at October 28, 2003 11:21 PM | TrackBack
Related Categories: Area - Tech - Television | Deep Dive - 'The Future of TV & Film' | Theme - 'Digital Impact'