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Headlines, Digital Divide
Digital TV Switch Needs Bill Cosby
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:44pmMeredith Attwell Baker is the acting head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Commerce Department unit responsible for overseeing next year's transition to digital signals.
Study: 91% of Hispanics Aware of DTV Transition
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:43pmThe vast majority of broadcast-only Hispanic TV households are aware of the digital-TV transition, up from less than one-third of those households that were aware of the transition last fall.
Japan lags on digital TV, study finds
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 7:39amWith three years until the analog signal is switched off, only 43.3% of TV households in Japan own TVs able to receive digital broadcasts.
Computers in use pass 1 billion mark: Gartner
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 23, 2008 - 8:03amThe number of personal computers in use around the world has surpassed 1 billion, with strong growth in emerging markets set to double the number of PCs by early 2014, research firm Gartner said on Monday.
Television Challenges FCC Indecency Authority and Implementation
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 22, 2008 - 3:28pmThe ABC Television Affiliates Association told a federal court Friday that the Federal Communications Commission was wrong to levy indecency fines on 45 stations for airing a fleeting scene of a nude actress in a 2003 episode of NYPD Blue.
Rep Boucher: DTV Transition Needs Technical Assistance Component
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 22, 2008 - 3:24pmRep Rick Boucher (D-VA) said that the government's digital television transition plan does not provide any money for new DTV antennas and lacks a technical assistance component, which could prove to be a problem for some viewers still connected to rabbit ears.
CEA Opposes Waiver For DTA Devices
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 22, 2008 - 3:18pmThe Consumer Electronics Association said Evolution Broadband’s digital-to-analog cable converters should not be granted an exception to the Federal Communication Commission’s separable-security mandate, alleging in a filing with the agency that such a waiver would “harm the public interest.” Evolution Broadband in May asked the FCC for a three-year waiver to the agency’s separable security mandate.
Senate Clears Way For More DTV Funds
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 2:58pmIn an amendment to the Deficit Reduction Act, the Senate decided to 1) free up "leftover funds" from the DTV-to-analog converter box program to help assist senior citizens minorities and rural viewers in preparing for and making the transition and 2) make funding available to help low-power broadcasters make the switch to digital.
FCC: Cable Nets Can't Fight Dual Carriage Rule
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 7:45amThe six cable networks that have mounted a judicial challenge to a new federal rule on the carriage of some digital TV stations have no legal standing to attack the rule in federal court, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Consumer Reports DTV Converter Box Ratings
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 7:43amConsumer Reports has reviewed and rated digital-to-analog converter box and the news is good: some of the cheaper DTV converter boxes now on the market work just as well or even better than more expensive models.
