| Contacts: | Jeff Joseph tel: 703 907-7664 e-mail: jjoseph@CE.org |
Jenny Pareti tel: 703 907 7079 e-mail: jpareti@CE.org |
CEA Responds to FCC Broadcast Flag Ruling
| Arlington, Virginia | 11/5/2003 |
The following statement was issued today by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro regarding yesterday's action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopting rules - commonly known as the broadcast flag - designed to prevent the mass redistribution of digital broadcast television programming over the Internet.
"We applaud the Commission for establishing a date of July 1, 2005 for products to comply with the broadcast flag requirements, as we had urged. Through this act, the FCC has recognized the real-world product development and manufacturing cycles of digital television (DTV) product manufacturers.
"We continue to urge the Commission and broadcasters to implement the flag in a manner that respects and protects consumers' fair use rights, and we believe some special status should have been given to news and public affairs programming.
"We also urge the FCC and broadcasters to ensure that implementation of the flag does not invalidate the billions of dollars consumers have invested to date in DTV, DVD, VCR and related products.
"The FCC has raised important questions in its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), including the circumstances in which technologies and products relied upon by consumers in good faith might be 'revoked' at the behest of content providers and distributors. In the Report & Order itself, the Commission recognized that adopted security technologies may continue to be considered successful and remain in use even though they may have been compromised.
"As the FCC moves to consider this FNPRM and another on 'Plug & Play' devices, including issues such as 'down resolution,' we will continue our efforts to defend established home recording and fair use rights and protect products in homes now being bought by American consumers."
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 1,200 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $85 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.
CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.