[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 237 (Monday, December 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63520-63521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30230]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Schedule for En Banc Hearing, Advanced Television Proceeding
December 6, 1995.
The schedule for the Federal Communications Commission's December
12, 1995 en banc hearing on Advanced Television, MM Docket No. 87-268,
is as follows:
8:30-8:45 a.m.--Opening remarks from the Commission
8:45-10:15 a.m.--Commercial Opportunities of Digital Broadcast
The transition to digital broadcast is fraught with risk and
uncertainty yet promises rich rewards if successful. Panelists discuss
the opportunities and challenges created by the transition to digital
television. Issues to be explored include whether digital technology
will allow broadcasters to compete in an increasingly challenging video
marketplace, how will they finance the transition, what is the impact
on their competitors?
Richard E. Wiley, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Advanced
Television Services
Steven Rattner, Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co
Ed Grebow, President, TELETV Systems, TELETV
Neil Braun, President, NBC Television Network, NBC, Inc.
John Hendricks, Chairman and CEO, Discovery Communications, Inc./
NCTA
Stanley Hubbard, Chairman and CEO of Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.
Lawrence Grossman, President, Brookside Productions & Horizons Cable
10:30 a.m.-noon--The Public Interest, Convenience and Necessity
The Commission's current public interest rules, including those
mandating specific statutory requirements, were developed for
broadcasters essentially limited by technology to a single, analog
video programming service. Panelists discuss the potential for more
flexible and dynamic use of the spectrum through digital broadcast and
its impact on broadcasters' obligation to serve the public interest.
Gigi Sohn, Deputy Director, Media Access Project
Alan Braverman, Vice President and General Counsel, Cap Cities/ABC
Barry Diller, Chairman, Silver King Communications
Faye Anderson, President, Douglass Policy Institute
David Honig, Executive Director, Minority Media and
Telecommunications Council
John Siegel, Sr. Vice President, Chris Craft Industries/INTV
1:30-3:00 p.m.--Digital Applications
The digital transmission system designed by the Grand Alliance
would provide broadcasters with new flexibility as they embark on
serving the American public with the next generation of television.
Allowing some flexibility would increase the ability of broadcasters to
compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Panelists discuss
potential for new applications to complement broadcast video as well as
look to the future for services made possible on recovered channels.
Ed Horowitz, Senior Vice President of Technology, Viacom
George Keyworth, Chairman, Progress and Freedom Foundation
James C. McKinney, Chairman, Advanced Television Systems Committee
Edward Reilly, President, McGraw-Hill Broadcasting/MSTV
John Major, Senior Vice President and Assistant Chief Corporate
Staff Officer, Motorola
James Carnes, President and CEO, Sarnoff/Grand Alliance
Joseph A. Flaherty, Senior Vice President, Technology, CBS Inc./ATSC
Broadcast Caucus
3:15-4:30 p.m.--Impact on Consumers
While a transition to digital broadcast promises many benefits, the
public interest would be served by avoiding any substantial dislocation
of service to existing viewers. With many competing services coming on
line, greater incentives exist for broadcasters to convert rapidly to
digital broadcast. Panelists discuss the expected impact on consumers
as it relates to deployment of new equipment and services, the ability
of broadcasters to continue to serve their audience during the
transition, the opportunities for improved service and technology and
the extent to which consumers' value is enhanced such that analog
transmission may be terminated.
Bruce Allan, Vice President, Technology & Business Development,
Thompson Consumer Electronics
Sherwin Grossman, President, Community Broadcasters Association
(CBA)
John Abel, President and CEO, Datacast Partners
Ralph Gabbard, President/COO of Gray Communications/NAB
David Liroff, Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer, WGBH
Educational Foundation
The hearing will take place Tuesday, December 12, 1995, from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room, Room 856, 1919 M St.,
NW., Washington, DC, and is open to the public. Concurrently, digital
television technology demonstrations, also open to the public, will be
presented. These demonstrations will be available for viewing Tuesday,
December 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Commission's Training
Center located on the first floor of 2000 M St., NW., Washington, DC.
The Commission may alter the schedule of demonstrations and panelists
if necessary.
Scheduled demonstrations will be presented by:
The Digital HDTV Grand Alliance
CBS, Inc.
Hitachi America, Ltd.
Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
Sony Corporation of America
Texas Instruments
For the hearing impaired, an ASL interpreter will translate the
hearing. Video tapes, which will be closed captioned, and written
transcripts of the hearing will be available for a fee.
For further information about the hearing, please contact Saul
Shapiro at (202) 418-2600. The contacts for media coverage are Karen
Watson, David Fiske,
[[Page 63521]]
Maureen Peratino and Audrey Spivack at (202) 418-0500.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-30230 Filed 12-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
