Powell's Proposal Is A Start
By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 4/15/2002
FCC chairman Michael Powell took the initiative in trying to get more high-definition broadcast and cable programming to consumers recently with his voluntary plan outlined in a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC).
While it is a positive move that Powell has drawn his and the FCC's line in the sand, the key word in the proposal is "voluntary." At NAB last week, Powell reiterated the voluntary part of his proposal and said there was no FCC "stick" waiting for those industries that question the plan.
Yet the letter was not greeted with outright disapproval by the broadcast, cable and consumer electronics industries. It has brought the problem back to the front burner, which is at least a start of a new discussion on this topic.
Powell calls on the four major broadcast networks, as well as HBO and Showtime to provide high-definition or equivalent programming during at least 50 percent of their prime-time schedule during the 2002-03 season. (See story on p. 3 for more details.)
The big deal for the consumer electronics industry is that Powell is pushing for manufacturers to include DTV tuners in all sets by Dec. 31, 2006. That is the same deadline that broadcasters have to give back all analog stations, except in markets where fewer than 85 percent of homes have the capability to receive digital signals.
During a speech at NAB last week, CEA president/CEO Gary Shapiro praised Powell's proposal as "true leadership" and he encouraged the FCC chairman to focus on other outstanding issues involving DTV, specifically cable compatibility and copy protection. "We must ensure that we preserve consumers' customary and established fair use and home recording rights," he said.
We heartily agree with Shapiro's comments and those by CEA technology policy VP Michael Petricone, who said in a statement after the Powell letter was released that as HDTV programming has increased year-to-year, "DTV tuner sales have risen concurrently."
The latter point reminded me of a discussion during the first quarter with a regional retailer based in the Southwest. He said, "Everyone is claiming that digital TV sales are going great. We don't see it." When it was pointed out to him that few stations in his state broadcast much in HDTV, he conceded, "That's why we aren't doing as well as other retailers!"
Of course broadcast networks and independent affiliates are still reluctant to purchase the new equipment to broadcast high-definition programming. And cable and satellite carriers still don't want to provide more space on their systems for broadcasters' programming. But at the very least Powell's proposal will get HDTV back on the front burner so its rollout, which has been a bumpy one, through no fault of the consumer electronics industry, will accelerate.
One would hope that his plan will get a full review at CEA's DTV Summit, to be held at the Washington D.C. Convention Center on Wednesday, April 24.
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