Public Policy And Technology Issues Must Not Slow DTV Transition, Urges CEA

Calls On FCC To Advance Date For Deployment Of Competitive Cable Navigation Devices

12-Jun-00

The resolution of remaining public policy and technology issues must not be permitted to slow the transition to digital television (DTV), the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) re-emphasized in comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). ""CEA firmly believes that it is essential to resolve the remaining issues quickly, so that full delivery of DTV capabilities are not delayed to consumers,"" said CEA. ""In this regard, CEA and the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) recently reached an initial accord regarding appropriate voluntary labeling of DTV receivers and also with respect to the question of whether all digital television sets should have a 1394/5C connector.""In its comments, CEA reiterated that the labels defined in the voluntary agreement announced last week are intended to address existing as opposed to future products. The agreement ""in no way"" limits the nature of devices - including current analog set-top boxes which should be labeled. These labels are expected to evolve, CEA explained, as will the understandings on how the labels should be applied. The association noted that further work will be necessary to devise appropriate labels for integrated sets, set-top boxes and other products to be introduced in the future to inform consumers about the capabilities of these new products.""The voluntary agreement of May 24 must be recognized for what it is: an initial step based on convenience and compromise, in what will be a continuing process that will seek to define the labeling of new products and services as they become available,"" said CEA. CEA also emphasized the need for open standards from the cable industry to describe how interactive features should be incorporated into integrated DTV receivers, without the need for a set-top box. ""The 1394/5C connector is not synonymous with 'interactive',"" CEA noted. ""Indeed, the [CEA/NCTA] agreement acknowledges that all DTV sets need not have a 1394/5C connector, but that appropriate labeling is required for sets both with and without that connector. An integrated DTV receiver (without a 1394/5C interface) can deliver the full measure of interactivity, provided that there are open standards describing how such interactive features are to be delivered.""These standards do not currently exist,"" CEA continued. ""We look forward to working with NCTA to develop the open standards required for the direct connection of receivers that support interactive capabilities to cable systems,"" said CEA.To that end, CEA urged the Commission to move forward from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2002, the date terminating cable operators' deployment of proprietary, closed-system, integrated navigation devices. ""With this action, the Commission will not only take a great step in advancing cable-consumer electronics compatibility, it can spearhead the development of a fully competitive market for all forms of equipment that connect to cable systems and help create a level playing field.""CEA also restated its firm belief that any technical standards intended to provide copy protection must strike the critical balance between the need to protect copyrights and the need to preserve reasonable and customary consumer recording practices.""While CEA's members are willing to adopt certain copy protection technologies, CEA disagrees with some commentors who contend that various legal restrictions should be imposed in order to prevent unauthorized copying of programming,"" said CEA. ""Additionally, any licensing requirements for copy protection must be reasonable and not onerous to consumers and manufacturers. The Commission must further ensure that content providers are not permitted to unilaterally set the terms for conditional access and copy protection, which, if permitted, will serve harm to consumers and consumer electronics manufacturers.""The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). CEA represents more than 600 U.S. companies involved in the development, manufacturing and distribution of audio, video, mobile electronics, communications, information technology, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services, that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, these companies account for more than $60 billion in annual sales.CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Your Source for Workstyle and Lifestyle Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.