EDG STILL #1 IN NEW JERSEY!
WASHINGTON –Janurary 15, 2002–
The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-1 in favor to require television manufacturers to have digital television (DTV) tuners in all sets by 2007.
The FCC ruled that by July of 2007 all sets would have to have the tuners. According to AP, manufacturers will have to include the tuners in all television 36 inches and longer by July of 2004, while all smaller televisions will have the three remaining years to meet the requirement.
The vote by the FCC reflects the government’s dissatisfaction with the whole DTV process. Michael Powell, FCC chairman, says the FCC’s action will take High Definition Television (HDTV) from being HDTV ready to reality.
Jenny Miller, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), says the requirement will cost $250 per set, and consumers about $7 billion. Disputing Miller’s claims is Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcaster (NAB), who, says that the NAB doesn’t anticipate any cost increase for onsumers. He adds that the simpler it is for consumers, the faster the technology will be accepted.
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