Rep. Markey to call for speeding DTV

[Gregg Lengling]

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), the senior Democrat on the House Energy & Commerce Subcommitte on Telecommunications and Internet, recently announced plans to draft legislation that would strengthen the federal government's role in speeding the DTV transition.  The lawmaker said he intends to work with Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and other panel members on the legislation early this year and that his proposal would include policy recommendations from a recent General Accounting Office (GAO) report urgin the DTV transition, which is expected to lag behind a congressionally mandated deadline of December 2006.  "DTV still has incredible potential for being a drive of economic growth, innovation and job creation, but only if the government provides the leadership required to jump-start much-needed economic activity by taking concrete steps to dramatically accelerate the DTV transition," Markey said.  The GAO study made several recommendations for FCC action aimed at speeding the analog-to-digital conversion, including examining whether to set a date when cable companies will be required to carry broadcasters' digital programming; analyzing whether to mandate that all television sets be digital 'cable ready'; and increasing efforts to further public awareness about the DTV transition and its impact on consumers.  The GAO found that about 40% of consumers still are unaware of the DTV transition and that sales staff at retail outlets are uninformed about key aspects of DTV technology.

(From AudioVideo International)