CEA Applauds FCC Action On DTV

16-Oct-00

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) released the following statement:""The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) applauds Chairman Kennard for his continued leadership on digital television. We support his efforts to hold the broadcast community accountable for promises made long ago - promises to deliver digital television to American consumers. Our industry believes that broadcasters have a public interest obligation to use the $70 billion spectrum, loaned to the industry by the American people, to provide digital, high-definition programming. ""CEA supports the enforcement of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) DTV rollout schedule and actions that give broadcasters financial incentive to hasten their transition to digital television. ""The FCC should avoid efforts that will shift the burden of broadcasters' responsibility to consumers. The proposed mandate requiring built-in DTV receivers in all televisions by January of 2003 will undoubtedly result in increased costs to consumers. Under this scenario, one manufacturer estimates that the cost of a 13-inch TV will be $1000 - a significant increase over today's average price of $125. ""The mandate also would severely limit consumer choice. Consumers have demonstrated that they want options when making the decision to upgrade to DTV. Many consumers are choosing to upgrade their monitor now - to enhance their DVD, DBS or analog experience - and buy a digital tuner later when more programming becomes available. Requiring consumers to purchase a digital television set conflicts with every public policy goal behind a market-driven transition to DTV.""Broadcasters have not delivered on DTV - let's not make consumers suffer the consequences.""For information, visit www.ce.org.

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