Analog Tuner Rule Is Burdensome and Should Be Dropped, Funai Urges FCC

The FCC should stop requiring analog tuners in TVs, said Funai representatives in a meeting last week with staff from the Media Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology, according to an ex parte filing in docket 03-185. “The requirement has largely outlived its purpose because low power TV and TV translators have been moving to digital signals and the remaining stations that have not converted will soon be mandated to broadcast only in digital format,” said Funai. The requirement causes TV manufacturers to design products that “contain substantially more complexity than is required, consume more energy, and are heavier/larger” than digital-only versions would be, the filing said. “The Commission is not legally required to retain this requirement.” Consumers also are "burdened by having to pay the extra cost incurred from complying with this requirement which arises from added hardware, software and various licensing fees," Funai said.