Background:
•The FCC’s rules mandate that a digital terrestrialtuner be included in all TVs.
•Congress has determined that U.S. broadcast (orterrestrial) television services must eventuallyconvert completely to digital operation.
Positive..
•DTV broadcasters will be able to offer television withmovie-quality pictures and Dolby digital surroundsound, along with other enhancements
•Consumers will be able to plug a TV set into anantenna virtually anywhere in the U.S., and if thetuner meets the Advanced Television SystemsCommittee’s (ATSC) A/74 specification, the TV willreceive clear digital service.
Downfall:
•Unfortunately, the FCC’s ruling on tuners does notmandate that the receiver meet the ATSCspecification, which means consumers must be sure tocheck the performance of the TV they buy.
•If consumers want to receive advanced digital cableservices such as video-on-demand, the cableoperator’s enhanced program guide, or interactivedata-enhanced television service, they will need topurchase a STB (set-top box).
Questions
•Who has a basic tv that receives basic cablechannels?
•Do you feel that with the new law calling back all ofthese tv’s people will do so?
•Do you think switching all tv’s to digital cable was agood idea?
Bibliography
•Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. July 2004. 28 November2005. <http://dtv.zarlink.com /technology/atsc/>