WPCB 2?BJE-Courier3|jw Roman#Xw PE37WXP# X-#Xj\  P6G;߈XP#VX@CourierTimes New RomanTimes New Roman Bold PE37XP#2@q ZX CourierCG TimesHP LaserJet 5PHPLAS5P.PRS5x  @\m!VX@"i~'^:DpddȨDDDdp4D48ddddddddddDDpppd|Ld|pȐD8DtdDdpXpXDdp8Dp8pdppXLDpdddXP,PhD4htDDD4DDDDDDdDp8dddddȐXXXXXJ8J8J8J8pddddppppddpddddzpdddXXhXXXXXdddhdptL8LpLDLpphhp8ZDP8pppddƐXXXpLpLpLphfDtppppppȐhXXXpDppLDd4ddC6CWxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNHxxHjdDdddddddYzzzzBBBBqodYYYYYYYYYYY8888dddddddnddddddd2KZ@"i~'^:DTddDDDd4D48ddddddddddDDd||||DXp||dp||ppL8LTdDddXdX8dd88X8ddddLL8dXXXLP8PlD4lTDDD4DDDDDDdDd8|d|d|d|d|dX|X|X|X|XD8D8D8D8dddddddddpX|ddddpXd|d|d|d|dXXlXx|X|X|X|XdddldldD8DdDDDddllXp8pHpDp@p8dtdddd|L|L|LdLdLdLllpHp8pTddddddplpLpLpLdpDddLpDpdx4ddC,CWddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddNHxxHhdLdddddd8@d<@d<DDppdDDxddxHxxHkddDpd<"dxtldxxdx` `  hh@hppFebruary 6, 1997 T  X- STATEMENT OF  X-9F"fCONMMISSIONE F"f COMMISSIONER F"f  F"fR  SUSAN NESS TP F"f   F"f   V1-Re: Digital Television and the Public Interest I applaud Vice President Gore's F"f  statement yesterday announcing the President's intention to convene an advisory panel that will consider the public interest obligations of broadcasters in the new digital environment, as the Commission proceeds with digital television licensing. I feel very strongly that the transition to digital broadcasting must continue expeditiously. I also have long held the view that broadcasters are stewards of the airways, and have public interest responsibilities that must be met. A public discourse on this topic would be welcomed. The Vice President urges us to move forward with licensing digital spectrum while this very important discussion is underway. I believe we should and will do so.