Telecommunications: Additional Federal Efforts Could Help Advance Digital Television Transition
GAO-03-7
Published: Nov 08, 2002. Publicly Released: Dec 02, 2002.
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Highlights
The transition to broadcast digital television (DTV) will provide new television services and the improved picture quality of "high definition television." It will also allow some portions of the radiofrequency spectrum used for broadcasting to be returned for public safety and commercial uses. The Congress set December 2006 as the target date for completing the DTV transition and turning off the analog broadcast signals. However, this date can be extended if fewer than 85 percent of households in a market are able to receive the digital signals. GAO was asked to assess issues related to the DTV transition.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Communications Commission | The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission should explore options to raise public awareness about the DTV transition and the implications it will have. For example, FCC might consider a public education campaign of its own, or it might consider partnering with the affected industries to provide consumers with more information about DTV products and the DTV transition. Such actions could help speed consumer adoption of DTV equipment as well as inform the public about a transition that will affect nearly all Americans. |
Closed – Implemented
FCC has recently developed a new web site with better information about the DTV transition. Moreover, the agency appears to be working more closely with industry to ensure that timely and correct information about the transition is available to the public.
|
| Federal Communications Commission | The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission should direct the relevant FCC bureaus and offices to examine the costs and benefits of mandating that all new televisions be digital cable-ready in addition to the existing mandate for a digital over-the-air tuner. As part of this process, FCC should conduct an independent analysis that estimates (1) the additional cost to consumers of adding a digital cable tuner and point of deployment slot and (2) the timetable of the DTV transition with and without such a mandate. FCC should then report its recommendations as to the actions it believes the Commission or Congress should take regarding a digital cable-ready mandate. |
Closed – Implemented
This recommendation was effectively implemented through the plug and play agreement that was developed between the consumer electronics industry and the cable television industry. The original agreement was for one-way plug and play, and the two industry groups are now involved in negotiations for bidirectional plug and play.
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| Federal Communications Commission | The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission should direct FCC's Media Bureau to examine the advantages and disadvantages of a policy that would set a date-certain for cable carriage to switch from full carriage of analog signals to full carriage of digital signals. Such a policy could be implemented by transferring broadcasters' must-carry rights from analog to digital on that date, or through some other means. The Chairman also should direct the Media Bureau to examine the possibility of combining such a policy with a digital cable-ready mandate. As part of this examination, FCC should estimate the amount of time it will take for the DTV transition to be completed without implementation of these policy options. |
Closed – Implemented
FCC has a plan that calls for the transfer of the must carry rights of broadcasters from the analog to digital signal on a certain date. GAO's recommendation asked for FCC to consider such a policy. Although it is not yet clear that this policy will be implemented, FCC has considered this option, as GAO recommended.
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Topics
Broadcasting standardsCable televisionDigital televisionHigh definition televisionMust-carrySatellite televisionTelevision broadcastingSpectrumTelevisionTelevision programming