Media Access Project: Digital Television Set Standards

Digital Television Set Standards

Digital TV Main Page

In the fall of 1996, the computer industry and consumer electronics industry were at odds over the technical standards to apply to digital television sets.

The electronics industry argued that they had invested time and money in their standard, and that it had already been tested and was ready to bring to market.

The computer industry argued against the need for any standard at all. It claimed that the electronics standard was needlessly costly, and would prevent the manufacture of competing devices, such as computer monitor/TV set hybrids.

Representing consumer interests, MAP urged both sides to settle their differences and to focus on reducing the ultimate cost to consumers. A final compromise was reached, which retained many of the features of the original standard, but removed many of the incompatible requirements that had concerned the computer industry.

More resources on Digital TV standards:

FCC's Order adopting Digital TV standard, a compromise agreement between the electronics and computer industries, and the accompanying news release. (also in WordPerfect and Acrobat formats)

Comments of MAP and Consumer Federation of America.

Reply Comments of MAP and CFA. Filed in response to first round of comments.

FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Digital TV standards. (also in WordPerfect format)

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This page last modified 8/24/00.