DirecTV Comments on Digital Copyright Issues

[Gregg Lengling]

DirecTV, in a filing detailing its thoughts on digital copyright protection issues, told the Federal Communications Commission that the agency should take a high-profile role in facilitating a dialogue on protecting digital content.

In comments sent to the agency last month, DirecTV said market-based solutions are key to protecting digital content, and should be considered before regulatory action. The satellite TV company also said all parties - equipment manufacturers, broadcasters, multichannel providers and content creators - need to cooperate should a digital copyright solution surfaces that doesn't require regulatory intervention.

If all that fails, "then government intervention may be necessary," the company said.

DirecTV urged the commission to "act as a powerful facilitator before asserting itself as a regulator," and "continue to take a high-profile role in moderating industry dialogue on standards-setting, technology implementation and compliance and enforcement issues."

In its comments, DirecTV also said any digital copyright protection regime should preserve fair-use expectations for consumers, including issues tied to the recording of digital TV content.

"DirecTV agrees that consumers are entitled to - and must - feel confident that a decision to make the leap to digital will not be a leap backward," the company said. "And consumers' expectations are that digital television will not only exceed their analog television experience in terms of picture quality, but also in terms of their ability to store, move, play back and otherwise interact with the content being transmitted."