News Release: Statement of FCC Chairman William Kennard on Broadcaster Build-Out of Digital Television

[ Text Version ]

fcclogo NEWS

Federal Communications Commission
1919 - M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554 News media information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
ftp.fcc.gov

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

December 18, 1997

STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN WILLIAM KENNARD ON
BROADCASTER BUILD-OUT OF DIGITAL TELEVISION

The true potential of the digital television revolution will only be realized when broadcasters build DTV stations and provide all Americans with free-over-the-air-digital television and with access to the vast array of new ancillary or supplementary services that are the subject of today's DTV proceeding.
The Commission has set a staggered schedule for broadcasters to build DTV stations and commence DTV broadcasting. Some broadcasters have voluntarily begun building their DTV stations, and I applaud these voluntary initiatives. I will continue to monitor the broadcasters' progress over the next year in meeting the FCC's build-out dates for DTV.
Today the FCC launched a new proceeding to implement the Congressional requirement in the 1996 Telecommunications Act that provides that broadcasters using their DTV channels for any pay- TV or subscription services that are not supported by advertisers pay a fee to the government for their fee- based uses of the public spectrum. This proceeding will provide guidance to broadcasters as they continue to build-out their DTV stations.
The FCC's order in April made it clear that broadcasters have to include at least one free over- the-air channel of traditional broadcasting in their DTV service. Today's action does not alter that rule, and no fee will be assessed on free over-the-air broadcasts.

- FCC -

	NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 1919 - M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov
	This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
	December 18, 1997
	STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN WILLIAM KENNARD ON BROADCASTER BUILD-OUT OF DIGITAL TELEVISION
	The true potential of the digital television revolution will only be realized when broadcasters build DTV stations and provide all Americans with free-over-the-air-digital television and with access to the vast array of new ancillary or supplementary services that are the subject of today's DTV proceeding. The Commission has set a staggered schedule for broadcasters to build DTV stations and commence DTV broadcasting. Some broadcasters have voluntarily begun building their DTV stations, and I applaud these voluntary initiatives. I will continue to monitor the broadcasters' progress over the next year in meeting the FCC's build-out dates for DTV. Today the FCC launched a new proceeding to implement the Congressional requirement in the 1996 Telecommunications Act that provides that broadcasters using their DTV channels for any pay- TV or subscription services that are not supported by advertisers pay a fee to the government for their fee- based uses of the public spectrum. This proceeding will provide guidance to broadcasters as they continue to build-out their DTV stations. The FCC's order in April made it clear that broadcasters have to include at least one free over- the-air channel of traditional broadcasting in their DTV service. Today's action does not alter that rule, and no fee will be assessed on free over-the-air broadcasts. - FCC -