TV Makers Struggle To Meet Mandate For Digital Tuners

TV MAKERS STRUGGLE TO MEET MANDATE FOR DIGITAL TUNERS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 8/4, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
The FCC in 2003 began to require that all televisions manufactured or imported into the United States include tuners. On July 1, 2004, 50 percent of all sets 36 inches and greater were to have tuners. On July 1, 2005, 100 percent of those sets, and 50 percent of mid-sized sets -- 25 inches to 35 inches -- were to have the tuners. The FCC originally set a 100-percent deadline for all sets 25 inches and greater for July 1, 2006. However, in June 2005 it shifted that deadline to March 1, 2006. Electronics manufacturers made marked strides in putting digital tuners in their television sets within the past year but fell short of the FCC requirement that 100 percent of all televisions 25 inches and bigger include tuners. Additionally, retailers and television manufacturers did not adequately warn customers that sets without digital tuners will not receive over-the-air broadcasts once analog broadcasting stops Feb. 17, 2009. A Technology Daily survey of two leading electronics retailers found 72 percent of the sets for sale at Best Buy included digital tuners, while 83 percent at Circuit City did.
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