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 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 Re:  Implementation  of  Section  304  of  the  Telecommunications  Act  of  1996;  Commercial  Availability  of  Navigation  Devices;  Compatibility  Between  Cable 
 Systems  and  Consumer  Electronics  Equipment 
 This  item  demonstrates  once  again  the  commitment  of  this  Commission  and  our  Chairman  to  move  forward  to  resolve  important  issues  in  order  to  expedite  the  digital 
 transition.  With  some  70  percent  of  U.  S.  households  subscribing  to  cable  television  services,  issues  like  cable  compatibility  and  other  technical  matters  that  have  been 
 holding  up  the  digital  transition  need  to  be  decided. 
 Today’s  decision  is  not  an  ideal  solution,  but  it  is  a  step  forward  and  far  preferable  to  a  status  quo  in  which  consumers  are  unable  to  access  digital  cable  services  without  a 
 set-  top  box  and  in  which  innovators  face  continued  uncertainty.  By  establishing  a  standard  to  ensure  the  compatibility  of  cable  systems  with  DTV  devices  and  providing  a 
 process  for  approval  of  new  products  and  technologies  with  the  Commission  as  neutral  arbiter,  this  decision  should  speed  the  commercial  availability  of  digital  cable  ready 
 products  with  greater  functionality,  thereby  providing  consumers  with  more  choices  and  ultimately  reducing  the  costs  of  DTV  technology. 


 We  will,  however,  only  succeed  in  accelerating  the  digital  transition  when  we  confront  head-  on  the  significant  consumer  confusion  that  exists  in  this  area.  Consumer 
 education  and  outreach  are  indispensable  in  gaining  consumer  acceptance.  Today’s  Order  requires  manufacturers  to  include  post-  sales  material  describing  the  features  and 
 limitations  of  unidirectional  cable  televisions.  I  would  prefer  to  see  information  provided  to  consumers  up-  front.  I  believe  we  need  a  greater  commitment  from  the  industry  and 
 from  the  Commission  for  consumer  outreach  and  education  if  we  are  to  succeed  in  this  transition.  What  we  can  require,  we  should  require.  Where  we  can’t  require,  we  should 
 exhort,  bring  parties  together,  and  encourage  the  development  of  such  practices  that  will  bring  needed  consumer  information  to  buyers  before  they  become  owners. 


 I  vote  for  today’s  Order  with  the  understanding  that  it  will  not  affect  any  of  the  rights  or  remedies  available  under  our  nation’s  copyright  laws  and  cognizant  that  it  is 
 Congress  that  ultimately  sets  national  policy  in  this  critical  and  sensitive  area.  As  we  implement  this  decision,  I  for  one,  and  I  trust  my  colleagues,  will  remain  sensitive  to  this 
 and  not  venture  into  content  matters  beyond  our  authority. 
 I  commend  the  cable  and  consumer  electronics  industries  for  their  efforts  to  reach  agreement.  It  is,  however,  not  the  end  of  the  process.  There  are  still  many  miles  to  walk 
 here.  I  expect  this  decision  will  provide  added  impetus  to  work  out  the  remaining  details  on  bi-  directional  cable  compatibility.  As  this  process  moves  forward,  I  hope  that  the 
 cable  and  consumer  electronics  industries  will  reach  out  and  work  more  closely  with  other  interested  parties  to  reach  consensus.  Many  individuals  and  groups  have  an  interest 
 in  the  outcomes  here,  and  in  the  next  round  I  will  be  looking  to  see  if  they  are  more  fully 
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 consulted  as  we  struggle  toward  resolution  of  these  often-  thorny  issues.  So  when  I  say  that  I  look  forward  to  working  with  my  colleagues,  the  industry,  and  all  interested 
 stakeholders  to  resolve  those  issues  together,  I  say  it  with  more  than  passing  interest.  The  bi-  directional  agreement  will  need  to  be  more  than  a  bi-  polar  discussion.  We  live  in  a 
 multi-  polar  world. 
 The  issues  attending  this  item  were  many,  complicated  and  often  highly  technical.  Our  Bureau  and  personal  staffs  did  yeoman  work  in  developing  and  plowing  through  an 
 item  that,  while  it  may  not  answer  everyone’s  fondest  hopes  and  dreams,  keeps  the  digital  television  transition  on  track  and  provides  processes  to  monitor  and  resolve  issues  as  they 
 develop.  I  want  to  salute  my  colleagues,  too,  for  their  immersion  in  all  this  and  for  the  constructive  cooperation  that  brought  the  item  to  us  this  morning. 
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