[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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