FCC deadline July 1st, 2006: TV 25-inch and larger must have an ATSC tuner
This deadline just kind of snuck up on everyone. We have already noticed that most 27-inch TVs and larger have digital tuners in them but now it is the law. Any 25-inch and larger TV manufactured after July 1, 2006 and sold in the United States must have an ATSC tuner in them. Next year the deadline is going to be for TVs 13-inches and bigger. Why you ask. Well, the folks on the FCC board are not that bad 'cause they had the consumer in mind (for once) with this mandate. The analog broadcast switch off of February 17, 2009 is just right around the corner and they don't want recently purchased TVs not to work. Don't forget that this is only going to affect people that use an antenna to pull in the signals. Cable and satellite will not be directly affected by this.
So the moral of the story is that if you use an antenna and are shopping for a new TV, make sure you are buying one with an ATSC tuner in it. If you need a smaller one, you might want to wait till next year otherwise you are going to have a nice little set-top box sitting next to that new TV in a few years.
Filed under: Industry, Misc, Regulatory, OTA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Derrick @ Jun 30th 2006 10:59AM
I noticed yesterday at my local BB that the tv aisles have been rearranged. The 1st two rows contained lcd's from 15" to 26" and this next aisle was sdtv crt's(containing tuners), all the hd crt's were pushed to the back out of high traffic areas(granted only 4 of these tv's exist).
siva @ Jun 30th 2006 2:05PM
As far as I know the TVs have to have ATSC tuner only if it also has a NTSC tuner. If a company is making just a monitor (no NTSC tuner), they don't have to include an ATSC tuner. This is the reason, some models of 37" Westy are being sold because it does not have NTSC tuner or a ATSC tuner.
Bob Colby @ Jun 30th 2006 6:31PM
These are the *old* mandates - these dates were changed last fall (causing lots of confusion in the process). The 25"-and-up mandate went into effect March 1 of this year (right about the time the digital SDTV started showing up in force). Next year's March mandate will now be for *all* sets - no size restrictions. Of course, that's sets that *have* a tuner - monitors excepted.
Here's the TWICE story from last January that gives the details:
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6296887.html
Murray Eldon @ Jun 30th 2006 11:09PM
Matt, Bob is correct
Your information on ATSC tuner requirements is outdated. The FCC has changed the rules. The new rules which can be obtained from the FCC website www.fcc.gov are contained in Report and Order 05-190. Digital television Receivers 25 inches and above manufactured for sale in the United States require digital (ATSC) tuners as of March 1, 2006. Receivers up to 25 inches (the 13 inch rule has been dropped) require digital tuners as do receivers without associated display by March 1, 2007. Cell phones, pdas, monitors without independant receiver capabilities etc, are exempt from the regulation UNLESS they have terrestrial (over the air) digital telvision capability in which case the fall unter the digital television regulations. You are correct on the analog shutoff, which is Feb. 17, 2009.
bigglare @ Jul 1st 2006 12:31PM
March 1st 2007 isn't just ALL TVS. Its all DEVICES. Pocket TVS Big TVS VCRS DVR DVDRs PC Tuners. The whole Enchilada. The complete Kit and Kaboodle.
These rules changed without much publicity and can be found only by digging through FCC website for their press release or rules sheets.
Chris Green @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:16AM
So, are they also going to have a mandate that computers must include modems? For a large % of the public, especially those buying new TVs, the concept of receiving television over the airwaves is a bad memory.
ryan @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:01PM
Also the comment on cabel / satellite users need not worry. Did you mean digital cable users? regular coax users still need a tuner to access content.