[opendtv] Re: CBA and Microprose team up on NTIA DTV Boxes
----- Original Message ----- From: "Craig Birkmaier" <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
Ther is a belief among some manufacturers that the legislation creating the DTV coupon program specifically prohibits the inclusion of an NTSC tuner. I do not read it that way, but the NTIA bought into the propaganda from a few manufacturers that the NTSC tuner would increase the cost of the box, so the NTIA prohibited it in their specs. In reality it may cost more to not include the NTSC tuner, as off-the-shelf chips could have been used...the NRE on a new chip design is considerable. 

From the NTIA:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/DTVmanufacturers.pdf
In the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, Congress defines the term 
digital-to-analog converter box as a:
"Stand-alone device that does not contain features or functions except those necessary to enable a consumer to convert any channel broadcast in the digital television service into a format that the consumer can display on television receivers designed to receive and display signals only in the 
analog television service, but may also include a remote control device."
An NTSC tuner would be a feature or function that is not necessary to enable a consumer to convert any channel broadcast in the digital television service into a format that the consumer can display on a television receiver designed to receive and display signals only in the analog television service.
I'm not saying I agree that NTSC tuners should have been excluded, I'm just saying that it was more than just hype from equipment manufacturers that led the NTIA to exclude analog tuners in CECBs.
I suspect that "See Ya" (nod to Mario) got that language put into the law to make sure that the CECBs didn't cut in to sales of new flat screen TVs. For example, most ATSC tuner chips also included, at no extra cost, ClearQAM tuner capability.
So if an NTSC and ClearQAM tuner were included, a CECB could have been an ideal means for cable viewers to convert to digital basic cable, and still have OTA backup service if cable went out. Throw in a CableCard slot, and the CECB could have been a very useful and desirable box. (Well, more desirable than they already are.)
I expect to see many of these CECBs to be reintroduced with NTSC and ClearQAM tuners that will tune both OTA and cable frequencies, and with HDMI outputs right after the coupon program expires. 

John






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