Fcc Takes Next Steps To Promote Digital Tv Transition

[Gregg Lengling]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
August 4, 2004               Suzon Cameron (202) 418-1916

FCC TAKES NEXT STEPS TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TV TRANSITION
Second Periodic Review determines channel election process, establishes deadlines for broadcasters to increase power, and resolves outstanding operational issues.
   Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") today adopted a Report and Order ("Order") that implements several steps necessary for the continued progress of the conversion of the nation's television broadcast system from analog technology to digital television ("DTV").  This Order will hasten the completion of the transition by:

•   Commencing an open channel election process in November 2004 that will provide certainty to the marketplace and ultimately result in a Final DTV Table of Allotments (see attached summary);
•   Establishing firm deadlines for digital stations to increase their power levels to serve additional viewers or lose interference protection to the un-served areas (see attached summary);
•   Requiring broadcasters to include PSIP information in their digital broadcast signals, thus promoting closed captioning, v-chip, channel numbering, and other functionality;
•   Eliminating, for now, the simulcasting requirement to permit the transmission of additional innovative programming on broadcast digital channels;
•   Providing clarity regarding the interference protection for broadcasters in TV channels 51-69;
•   Clarifying our digital closed captioning rules in order to ensure that those services are consistently and effectively delivered;
•   Mandating that, after an 18-month transition period, all digital television receivers contain v-chip functionality that will permit the current TV ratings system to be modified; and  
•   Committing to opening a fast-track proceeding on distributed transmission technology while agreeing to consider individual deployments on a case-by-case basis in the interim.  



Action by the Commission, August 4, 2004, by Report and Order (FCC-04-192).  Chairman Powell, Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, Martin and Adelstein.  Separate statements issued by Chairman Powell, Commissioners Copps, Martin and Adelstein.
Docket 03-14
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