[DMCA-Activists] FCC Declares Policy for Copying Digital TV

[Seth Johnson]

(Forwarded from Interesting People list)

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Farber <address@hidden>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 10:58:56 -0400
Subject: [IP] FCC OKs new rules for digital 
televisionSiliconValley.com: First Edition (HTML)

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6744424.htm
FCC OKs new rules for digital television
STANDARDS SHOULD BENEFIT CONSUMERS
By Heather Fleming Phillips
Mercury News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday took 
steps to speed up the transition to digital television, adopting rules 
that would make it easier for consumers to hook up to digital 
programming.

The FCC approved technical and labeling standards for digital TV sets, 
so that TVs labeled as ``digital cable ready'' could plug directly 
into the cable system without a set-top box. Consumers still would 
have to get a descrambling security card from their cable operator to 
plug into the set.

The cable ``plug and play'' sets are expected to be on the market by 
the 2004 holiday shopping season.

Digital copies

The agency also adopted rules clarifying consumers' rights to make 
copies of digital programming, a hotly debated issue that has pitted 
Hollywood against consumer electronics manufacturers.

Digital TV holds out the promise of revolutionizing entertainment, 
offering crystal-clear pictures and interactive programming. But 
consumers haven't snapped up the new sets as quickly as broadcasters, 
cable companies and TV manufacturers would like. The hefty price tag 
has kept some consumers away.

Adoption also has been hampered because consumers have had to lease 
digital set-top boxes from their cable companies.

`Great result'

``This is a great result for consumers,'' FCC Chairman Michael Powell 
said of the commission's 5-0 vote. The cable TV and consumer 
electronics industries hailed the agency's action, which was prompted 
by an agreement between the two sectors submitted to the commission 
last December.

Industry officials said the new rules could pave the way for cable 
services to be promoted in stores such as Circuit City and Best Buy, 
where satellite TV has had a strong presence for years.

For now, the agreement only covers set-top boxes for basic one-way 
cable TV services. Consumers who wish to receive two-way services such 
as video-on-demand or enhanced electronic programming guides still 
would have to use a set-top box.

The digital copying agreement would allow consumers to freely make 
copies of over-the-air broadcasts for personal use. It sets tighter 
restrictions for making copies of programming on premium services and 
prevents copying of pay-per-view programming.

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