TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: FCC to Teevee Sales Folk: Warn People They May be Buying

FCC to Teevee Sales Folk: Warn People They May be Buying

Danny Burstein (dannyb@panix.com)
Fri, 4 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-69A2.pdf

Washington, D.C.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted an order
requiring retailers to fully inform consumers when TV equipment being
sold has only an analog tuner.

Today's action reflects the Commission's commitment to minimize the
burden on consumers and maximize the opportunities offered to them by
the digital transition.

The Commission's DTV tuner rule prohibits the manufacture, import, or
interstate shipment of any device containing an analog tuner, unless
it also contains a digital tuner. Despite this prohibition on
manufacture and shipment, retailers may continue to sell analog-only
devices from existing inventory. However, at the point of sale, many
consumers are not aware that this equipment will not be able to
receive over-the-air-television signals after February 17, 2009.

The Order adopts a rule requiring sellers to more fully inform
consumers by displaying the following text if they are selling TV
equipment with only an analog broadcast tuner:

Consumer Alert

"This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will
require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive
over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's
transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TV's should continue
to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming
consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more
information, call the Federal Communications Commission at
1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital
television website at: www.dtv.gov. "

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