NTIA: More than 150 DTV Converter Boxes Certified
National Telecommunications and Information Administration certified more than 150 DTV-to-analog converter boxes; 63 contain analog pass-through capability.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/24/2008 10:45:00 AM
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration said it has now certified more than 150 digital-TV-to-analog converter boxes and more than one-third of those (63) contain analog pass-through capability.
The NTIA does not require the boxes to pass through an analog signal, which means the boxes without that function would have to be modified with an A/B switch or turned off to receive the analog signals that will still be broadcast by some low-power and translator stations.
The NTIA also established a cutoff date -- September -- for submitting converter boxes for certification to make sure that they can be tested and, hopefully, certified, before the coupon program ends. The last day viewers can request coupons is March 31, 2009. The last day they can be redeemed by retailers is July 9, 2009.
The NTIA said Thursday that 6.3 million converter boxes have been bought using the $40 coupons it has been mailing out to viewers.
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Considering the massive boondogle/fiasco of analog pass-thru capability, one might expect reasonable parties to *extend* the coupon program, not dream up new hard cut-off dates out of thin air.
CE companies first had to scramble to change their designs to implement analog pass-thru, and NOW they have to scramble yet again to meet a new artificial deadline.
This is just another example of how little understanding NTIA has about the consumer electronics industry. It's also pretty good evidence that NTIA just wants to get this program over with and off their plate as quickly as possible in order to get themselves out of the hot seat.
Sean Wallace - 7/25/2008 3:45:00 PM EDT -
So why can't you find them in stock? Most stores that have DTV boxes sell only one brand. Many appear to be available only on line. Why this discrepancy between the number of certified models, and the paucity of stock in the stores? Please tell us in a followup, John, because if the folks can't get the boxes easily,the industry will lose OTA audience viewers (unless the deadline for analog death is pushed back, which it should be to avoid a real headaache and embarrassment for the industry).
Adam Smith - 7/24/2008 4:43:00 PM EDT
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