FYI....Cable Operators Have a Digital Plan...FYI...
<<Wednesday February 23, 8:05 pm Eastern Time
FOCUS-Cable operators, TV makers have digital plan
WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Cable television operators and consumer electronics makers reached agreement Wednesday on connecting new digital devices, removing one hurdle delaying the transition to futuristic broadcasting services like high-definition TV.
The agreement, which came about after years of wrangling and pressure from federal regulators, established standards for connecting cable systems to new digital-capable TV sets and displaying program guides and schedule information.
But regulators expressed concern that the two industries still had not agreed on a copy protection scheme to allow digital sets to connect to video recorders and other equipment.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard, who last month threatened to impose regulations governing the connections, welcomed the agreement but warned his agency would move ahead unless a full pact was reached.
Kennard cited the lack of a copy protection scheme and a failure to agree on how to describe the capabilities of digital sets. Some TV sets, for example, may be capable of showing over-the-air digital broadcasts but not of connecting to cable or other digital devices.
''These two issues are very important to consumer enjoyment of digital television,'' Kennard said in a statement. ''I urge the parties to continue to work toward a marketplace solution in these areas as well.''
Television is slowly but surely moving from old-fashioned analog service to advanced digital systems that will allow movie-like pictures, interactive offerings and more efficient use of the airwaves. As many as six ordinary-quality digital broadcasts or one or two high-definition shows can fit in the airwaves that now carry a single analog broadcast channel.
But few consumers have purchased TV sets capable of picking up digital and high-definition broadcasts. In part that was due to a lack of compelling programming and high-priced equipment but another major stumbling block was lack of compatibility with cable systems.
Representatives of the cable and consumer electronics industries hailed Wednesday's deal and pledged to continue working on the outstanding issues.
''This is yet another giant step forward in the transition to DTV,'' said Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association whose members like stand to reap massive revenues if consumers begin upgrading to digital equipment en mass. The group includes Sony Electronics Inc. , Toshiba America and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s Panasonic .
Robert Sachs, president of the National Cable Television Association that includes companies like AT&T Corp. (NYSE:T - news), Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX - news) and Charter Communications (NasdaqNM:CHTR - news), said the agreement proved no government intervention was needed.
''This voluntary solution makes unnecessary government involvement in setting compatibility standards for the dynamic digital TV marketplace,'' he said in a statement.
Cable operators are waging a fierce lobbying battle at the FCC to avoid a rule requiring them to carry all over-the-air digital broadcasts. So-called must carry rules already require cable operators to carry all analog channels and broadcasters are seeking to have the policy extended.
In a letter to the FCC on Tuesday, broadcasters blasted the agency for failing to adopt digital must-carry rule or set interconnection standards.
''The Commission has accorded cable sacred cow status,'' the National Association of Broadcasters and other groups said in the letter.
A spokesman for the group said the Wednesday agreement was too little, too late and again called for FCC action.
''This is only a piece of the solution and represents a transparent attempt by cable operators and TV manufacturers to avoid an FCC inter-operability rule desperately needed by consumers,'' an NAB spokesman said.>>
Regards,
Scott |
