California jams up the digital transition.(capital currents)(California Energy Commission)

CED, February, 2005 by Krauss, Jeffrey

California has just given a big boost to broadcasters' efforts to delay the return of the analog TV broadcast spectrum. In mid-December, the California Energy Commission adopted regulations that would prohibit the sale in California of the currently-available digital-to-analog off-air converter boxes. They did it by adopting a power consumption limit that is far below the power specifications of current products.

Never mind that Congress wants the broadcasters to give up their analog spectrum by the end of 2006. In the closing days of the 2004 session, our elected representatives adopted a "sense of the Congress" resolution to that effect. While this doesn't make the giveback mandatory as a matter of law, it puts pressure on the FCC to adopt regulations that...

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