The Federal Communications voted 4-0 to require televisions with screens from 25 inches to 36 inches be digital-ready by March 1. That is four months earlier than the commission decreed in 2002. The commission also proposed moving the deadline for all small TVs — those 13 inches to 24 inches — to the end of 2006, rather than mid-2007, as had been set. That proposal, which also applies to DVD players and other devices that can receive a TV signal, will be voted after a period of public comment.
TV manufacturers will have to ship more than 50% of their volume as digital-ready TVs by next year. That will also push the industry to deliver HD-DVD and HD-Disk recorders. It will also mean the PC industry needs more choices in PC HD-TV tuners beyond ATI's product.
This is a good move for the industry, as a faster transition will push volumes up faster -- and reduce costs faster as well. Moreover, having lots of analog spectrum available in 2007 will make next-generation wireless (e.g., WiMax) easier to deliver and public services, desperate for more cell-phone capacity during 9/11, may find their wishes fulfillable.
-- Peter S. Kastner
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