Groups claim manufacturers are selling products that could quickly become obsolete
Washington, D.C. - May 13, 2008 – Today six leading consumer, civil rights, and disability rights organizations urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate whether the lack of an automatic upgrade capability in digital televisions (DTVs) is hurting consumers, particularly those with disabilities.
In a letter to the FCC, the groups stated that the lack of such a capability could leave consumers with obsolete DTVs shortly after they are purchased due to software problems with the DTVs themselves, changes to V-Chip and emergency alerting regulations, and enhancements to accessibility technologies like captioning and video description. They noted recently announced software problems with V-Chips in televisions and reception tuners in digital converter boxes the government is subsidizing. Furthermore, the organizations believe that this issue could potentially be solved with a simple, inexpensive automatic software upgrade that allows manufacturers to correct software errors quickly and easily with little to no burden on the consumer.
Automatic update capability could also assist people with disabilities by enabling rapid dissemination of new innovations and enhancements to existing technologies for captioning, video description, and alerting. Instead of waiting for a new base of DTVs with enhanced accessibility options to disseminate across the market, an automatic update capability could allow for such technology to be distributed much faster.
"An automatic upgrade capability, like the kind we have for our personal computers, satellite and cable set top boxes, and TiVos saves consumers the hassle of having to manually download and install an update using a memory stick – where that is even possible," stated John Breyault, Research Director for the Telecommunications Research and Action Center. "For example, when it was discovered that millions of DTVs were being sold in violation of V-Chip 2.0 rules, automatic update ability could have solved the problem easily; instead all the FCC could do was fine the manufacturers."
The groups urged the FCC to issue a Notice of Inquiry to shed light on the automatic update issue, private market incentives to install the technology (Sony has done so), and whether the Commission might have to act to protect consumers. They suggested that the Commission might require such capability as part of its certification process or require clear labeling of whether equipment has the automatic update capability.
The letter was endorsed by the American Association of People with Disabilities, Consumer Federation of America, National Hispanic Media Coalition, New America Foundation, Telecommunications Research and Action Center, and World Institute on Disability. A copy of the letter may be found at http://www.trac.org/on-trac-for-2009/articles/letter-to-the-fcc.html.
About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AAPD, the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change – economically, politically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com.
About the Consumer Federation of America (CFA)
CFA is a nonprofit association of some 300 pro-consumer groups, with a combined membership of 50 million people. CFA was founded in 1968 to advance consumers' interests through advocacy and education.
About the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
The National Hispanic Media Coalition is a non-profit, media advocacy organization established in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. With statewide chapters across the country, the NHMC works to improve the image of American Latinos as portrayed by the media, increase the number of American Latinos employed in all facets of the media industry, and to advocate for media and telecommunications policies that benefit the American Latino community. For more information on the National Hispanic Media Coalition, or Hate Speech against Latinos please go to www.nhmc.org.
About the New America Foundation
The New America Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has offices in California.
About the Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC)
TRAC, founded in 1983, is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the interests of residential telecommunications customers. TRAC staff researches telecommunications issues and publishes rate comparisons to help consumers make informed decisions regarding their long distance and local phone service options.
About the World Institute for Disability (WID)
WID's mission is to advance the human and civil rights of people with disabilities through research, training, advocacy and public education. With an emphasis on social and economic equity, WID has worked to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to live as productive and contributing members of society. Founded in 1983 by leaders of the disability movement, WID is a 501(C) (3) organization based in Oakland, California. A majority of WID's staff and board of directors are people with disabilities, allowing the organization to maintain a grassroots focus informed by a diverse disability perspective.
