Just a year and a half ago, when the outlook appeared bleak for agreement on a transmission standard, I stepped in and helped forge a consensus that ultimately was adopted. And I did so because I believed that broadcasters should have the opportunity to remain competitive and transition their service from analog to digital in a manner that best serves the public. Yet the DTV transition will have this effect. We are asking consumers to give up an analog system that has served them well. It is essential that the transition go as smoothly as possible.
Government only has a small role to play.
Now, those broadcaster decisions should not be undermined by the unilateral actions of a cable operator or other distributor. This glitch has highlighted the pressing need for broadcasters, cable, consumer electronics, and computer interests, and program owners to work together. And I am heartened that Cable Labs has pledged that the next generation of OpenCable set tops will deliver whatever high definition formats broadcasters choose to transmit. Tower construction is another critical issue. Fortunately, most of the early digital broadcasters appear to be moving forward with constructing their systems without local government problems.