[opendtv] NTIA Issues Alert on Microprose DTV-Converter Box

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6563455.html?nid=3347

NTIA Issues Alert on Microprose DTV-Converter Box

National Telecommunications and Information Administration Seeks to Clarify 
Representations Made by Community Broadcasters Association, Vendor About 
MPI-500PT Model

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/22/2008 2:46:00 PM

Attention, online converter-box shoppers: The National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration put out an alert on representations made by the 
Community Broadcasters Association and Microprose for the latter's MPI-500PT 
model of digital-to-analog converter box.
 
That box has the analog pass-through capability that will allow viewers to 
still see the thousands of low-power analog stations that will likely still be 
broadcasting after the Feb. 17, 2009, switch to digital without having to 
unhook the box.

While that is a feature the NTIA is encouraging manufacturers to include, it 
has not yet certified the new box for its DTV-converter-box coupon-subsidy 
program. The NTIA is concerned about consumers being led to believe that they 
can use their $40 coupons toward the purchase of the boxes, which Microprose is 
selling online.

On its Web site, Microprose promotes the May 15 launch of its online-box sales 
by saying, "Of central interest to many is the ability to order the Microprose 
MPI-500PT model digital-to-analog converter boxes by many early adopters whose 
NTIA coupons are set to expire May 31 if not used."

While the urgency of that message certainly leaves the impression, as does a 
release issued this week, that the boxes are coupon-eligible, the description 
of the item on the new sales site says: "Certification discrepancy has put this 
unit as non-coupon-eligible. If your coupon is set to expire and you want to 
purchase an NTIA box, please select our non-analog MPI-500."

But it is the message discrepancy that troubled the NTIA.

In a consumer alert issued Thursday, the NTIA said: "The MPI-500PT model has 
not been certified by the program as coupon-eligible." The agency added that it 
is talking with the CBA and Microprose about the May 20 press release.

Greg Herman, VP, technology of CBA, says his group believed the box had already 
been certified, and was simply trying to do what NTIA and others had advised 
them to do, which was to inform viewers about how they could continue to 
receive low-power signals and help them get the right equipment.

"Some i's were not dotted and t's crossed at NTIA, " Said Herman, "so, instead 
of fast-tracking the box, they decided it was more important not to."

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