[opendtv] High-Tech CEOs Push Digital TV Deadline

High-Tech CEOs Push Digital TV Deadline
Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:29 AM ET

By Brooks Boliek

WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - The leaders of some of America's 
biggest names in high technology are calling on Congress to approve 
legislation that sets a "date certain" for the switch to digital television.

In a letter to House Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Joe Barton, 
R-Texas, and the committee's ranking minority member, Rep. John Dingell, 
D-Mich., the CEOs of nine companies -- including Intel, Hewlett-Packard 
and IBM -- called on Congress to set a date when broadcasters will be 
forced to end their analog transmissions.

"Continuing failure to bring the DTV transition to an end will adversely 
impact our economy, our public safety and our position as a global 
innovation leader," the CEOs wrote under the auspices of the Computer 
Systems Policy Project.

"We urge you to establish in law a firm and binding date certain for 
completing the DTV transition as soon as possible," the CEOs told the 
lawmakers, according to a copy of the letter mailed on Tuesday that was 
obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

The letter was signed by Intel Corp. CEO Craig Barrett, Hewlett-Packard 
Co. president and CEO Mark Hurd, Unisys Corp. president and CEO Joseph 
McGrath, IBM chairman and CEO Samuel Palmisano, NCR Corp. director and 
CEO James Ringler, Dell president and CEO Kevin Rollins, Applied 
Materials president and CEO Mike Splinter, EMC Corp. president and CEO 
Joseph Tucci and Motorola chairman and CEO Ed Zander.

Barton is preparing legislation that will set a specific date when 
broadcasters will have to begin transmitting only on their digital TV 
channels. While Barton has said he prefers an analog cutoff date of Dec. 
31, 2006, he told broadcasters last week that he's willing to deal on 
the date.

Currently broadcasters are required to end analog transmissions at the 
end of 2006, or when 85 percent of the American TV viewing audience 
receives a digital signal, whichever comes later. The 85 percent number 
has long been considered an unreachable goal.

While Barton contends that he has the votes in his committee and the 
full House for a bill that includes a date certain, it is unclear 
whether he does. Many lawmakers have expressed concern that turning off 
people's analog TVs will lead to widespread voter unrest.

The CEOs contend that setting a date will accelerate broadband 
deployment, spur innovation and improve communications among public 
safety agencies.

They also expressed their support for Barton's idea that some of the 
proceeds from a government auction of the analog channels should be used 
to pay for converter boxes or other means to provide broadcast service 
to the 15 percent of the U.S. TV audience that still relies exclusively 
on free, over-the-air broadcasting for their television service.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

-- 

Regards,
Mark A. Aitken Director, Advanced Technology

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