TRANSCRIPT

Senator Ron Wyden and Senator John Ensign hosted a discussion on the economic, technological and policy implications resulting from the transition from analog to digital television on September 30, 2004.

The transition to digital television has been widely debated and discussed, particularly with regard to the speed of the transition, which is either proceeding on schedule or lagging expectations depending on who you ask. The shift to digital will bring challenges and opportunities for broadcasters, spectrum users and consumers. Therefore, it is worth looking beyond the question of exactly when or how the transition will happen to ask what is going to happen once it's complete?

How will consumers and businesses react? What is the likely impact on public safety and other non-profit users of the spectrum? From a technological perspective, what new options does digital television portend and what new services can providers offer with the additional spectrum? A panel of experts discussed these and related issues at the lunchtime briefing on the 30th.

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