Section 1. SHORT TITLE;
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 2. FINDINGS.
Section 3. ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF ANALOG
TELEVISION SPECTRUM FOR FUTURE USES. Removes the conditions that enable
the FCC to extend the deadline within which television broadcasters are to cease
analog television service. Television broadcasters would be required to
cease analog television service (and operate in digital) by December 31, 2006.
Section 4. PASS-THROUGH OF NETWORK DIGITAL SIGNALS.
Directs the FCC to establish a schedule by which network affiliates are to
pass-through the high-definition signals provided by the network.
Section 5. DIGITAL TELEVISION BROADCAST FLAG
RULEMAKING. Directs the Commission to promulgate rules to require
digital devices capable of receiving a digital signal to recognize the use of a
broadcast flag by January 1, 2006, in order to prevent the unauthorized
redistribution of marked digital terrestrial broadcast television content to the
public over the Internet. Directs the FCC to establish an expedited
process, which may include self-certification, by which the FCC shall determine
whether proposed content protection technologies satisfy the requirements of
this section. Directs the FCC to establish a set of objective technical
criteria that: identify technology to protect digital broadcast television
content and prevent transmissions to the public over the Internet; do not impose
unnecessary or unreasonable burdens on product design or manufacture, or stifle
innovation; protect the full functionality of consumer equipment manufactured
prior to January 1, 2006; and to the maximum extent possible are technologically
neutral, recognize and utilize multiple technologies that have been developed by
private industry; and takes into account advances in technology,
Directs the FCC to provide for the termination of equipment with analog
outputs by July 1, 2005. Directs the FCC to ensure availability of news
and public affairs programming by prohibiting the use of the broadcast flag with
this content. Ensures that content providers and manufacturers of
equipment are free to incorporate broadcast flag technology licensing
terms (including compliance, robustness and encoding rules) that do not alter or
diminish the functionality of consumer equipment intended for legal,
noncommercial use; and that are not broader than necessary to prevent theft of
services. Provides an exemption for professional equipment. Enables
parties to petition the FCC to sunset the broadcast flag regulations if multiple
technologies are available in the marketplace, and enforcement is no longer
necessary for consumers. Requires the FCC to conduct biennial reviews of
its regulations in this area.
Section 6. PROHIBITION OF DUAL MUST-CARRY.
Tracks the FCC’s tentative conclusion that cable operators are not required to
carry both the analog and the digital signal during the transition to digital
television.
Section 7. APPLICABILITY OF MUST-CARRY REQUIREMENTS
TO DIGITAL MULTICASTING. To be supplied.
Section 8. DIGITAL TELEVISION CABLE COMPATIBILITY.
Directs the FCC to promulgate rules, within 120 days of enactment, to ensure
nationwide interoperability with cable systems and nationwide portability of
equipment sold as capable of providing digital television service when connected
to a cable system. Requires cable operators, by July 1, 2005, to
transmit signals in accordance with technical standards accredited by ANSI that
enable subscribers to receive, without a separate cable set-top box, basic and
premium digital television cable programming in standard and high definition and
simple pay-per-view standard digital programming if offered by the cable
operator. Requires cable operators by July 1, 2005 to make available to
subscribers security PODs that are manufactured in accordance with standards
accredited by ANSI. Requires all digital television display equipment to include
digital interface connections, and ensure equipment is upgradeable. This
equipment is not required to be OpenCable Applications Platform (OCAP) compliant
or compliant with any specification to provide two-way capability.
Regulations may permit a manufacturer of equipment to self-certify compliance
with the regulations. Ensures that the licensing terms (including
compliance, robustness and encoding rules) that do not alter or diminish the
functionality of consumer equipment intended for legal, noncommercial use; and
that are not broader than necessary to prevent theft of service and
physical harm to the cable system.
Section 9. DIGITAL TELEVISION TUNER REQUIREMENT.
Affirms FCC schedule to incorporate DTV tuners into devices.
Section 10. INTEGRATED CONVERTER-SECURITY BOXES. Repeals
FCC prohibition on MVPDs from providing new navigation devices that have
security and non-security functions.
Section 11. CONSUMER NOTICE REQUIREMENT. Requires
that the Commission regulate conspicuous notifications to consumers of any
apparatus that receives, records, or displays or navigates among television
signals and to any recordings of protected works. The equipment notices
must disclose when the apparatus will not receive, record or display digital TV
content. The recording notices must disclose the classes of apparatus the
will display the recording and the protection technologies that prevent such
replay. Recordings of protected works include copyrighted video and its
accompanying audio offered to the public
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