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Technology and Government Leaders Converge to Discuss DTV and Digital Content at CEA's Entertainment Technology Policy Summit

17:23 EST Thursday, March 16, 2006

WASHINGTON (Business Wire) -- Day One Featured Second Annual Digital Patriots Dinner Honoring Microsoft's Bill Gates, Senator John Ensign and Congressman Joe Barton

Technology industry leaders joined top government and public policy officials yesterday to discuss the final transition to digital television, new content distribution systems and international trade issues during day one of the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) inaugural Entertainment Technology Policy Summit. The event runs through today at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro opened the Summit with a focus on digital television (DTV). "CEA estimates that high-definition television (HDTV) set sales will surpass analog TV sales for the first time in 2006. Additionally, more than 30 million DTV products have been sold from product inception in 1998 through February of this year," announced Shapiro. "These factors prove that HDTV is a marketplace success."

But he added there is more work to be done. "We have reached an important milestone in the transition to DTV with the adoption by Congress of the February 17, 2009 date for the switch over to all digital broadcasting," said Shapiro. "Government and all industries involved in the transition should now focus on continuing to educate consumers about this exciting new era in television."

Continuing the DTV focus, CEA's Director of Industry Analysis Sean Wargo provided insight to the vast changes in the U.S. television market, noting the rapid upgrade cycle to DTV. He said CEA forecasts that DTV shipments will reach 137 million units by 2009 and noted that LCD and plasma TVs are two of the top 10 fastest growing products based on shipment revenues.

FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein gave a morning policy keynote and congratulated CEA for helping establish the 2009 cut-off date for analog broadcasting. He warned that while progress has been made, there still are many Americans who do not yet understand HDTV and the possible changes associated with their analog television sets. "We need to avoid national confusion," cautioned Adelstein as he called for a comprehensive educational campaign, combined with a unified federal message and approach to educating every consumer about the benefits and exciting offerings of HDTV.

In the first panel session of the morning, moderator Jeremy Pelofsky correspondent, Reuters, and panelists Brandon Burgess, CEO, Ion Media Networks; Bryan Burns, vice president, strategic business planning and development, ESPN; Rick Chessen, partner, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton; Alan McCollough, chairman, Circuit City; Bob Okun, vice president, NBC Universal Washington and John Taylor, vice president, public affairs and communications, LG Electronics, continued the DTV focus as they discussed the Final Steps to the Big Finish. Panelists agreed that consumer education surrounding the DTV transition needs to be a top priority, but were divided on the issue of increased regulatory involvement. Broadcast representatives stressed the need for government clarification of incentives and rules surrounding the issues of must-carry, broadcast flag, copy protection and multicasting and the need for the hard date to be mandated for the cable industry as well as broadcast. Conversely, retail and industry panelists lobbied for an industry-driven, marketplace approach to the transition.

The next session, Regulatory and Marketplace Barriers: Level Playing Field for All--Except for My Computer, moderated by Drew Clark, senior writer, National Journal's Technology Daily, brought representatives from the telecommunications and cable industry together to debate if and how current franchise laws should be applied to new IP-video services being deployed by the major communications companies. The panelist included Dorothy Atwood, senior vice president of regulatory planning and policy, AT&T; Rick Cimerman, vice president of state government affairs, National Cable and Telecommunications Association; Clyde Wayne Crews, Jr., vice president for policy, director of technology studies, Competitive Enterprise Institute and Michael McKeehan, director, Internet and technology policy, Verizon. Also joining the discussion were Amy Levine, legislative counsel to Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Michael Sullivan, senior technology advisor to Senator John Ensign (R-NV), who provided an update on legislation to streamline the current franchise law regime being considered by Congress.

The afternoon session, Kiss the Ring: A Tale of Two Interests, moderated by Jon Healey, editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times, featured a compelling discussion about the future of Internet services, fair access and device attachment. The panelists, which included Jonathan Banks, vice president, BellSouth; John Godfrey, vice president; Samsung Electronics; Dr. Paul Liao, president, Panasonic Technologies Co.; Paul Misener, vice president, Amazon.com and Paul Mitchell, senior director and chief of staff, Microsoft TV Group, agreed that openness and innovations should continue and that consumer driven, value-added broadband services are the next wave of Internet innovation.

In a special keynote, United States Trade Representative Rob Portman addressed the CEA Board of Industry Leaders and gave an update on the ongoing Doha negotiations, bilateral and regional trade agreements, enforcement of trade laws and the overall importance of free trade. "As CEA's member companies can attest, opening up new markets and expanding trade is good for profits, workers and consumers," said Ambassador Portman. "Yet many people seem to think jobs are disappearing and wages are shrinking because of trade. We need to counter that perception."

CEA hosted the second annual Digital Patriots Dinner on Wednesday evening, honoring industry and government leaders who have played a pivotal role in the digital revolution.

The 2006 class of Digital Patriots honorees included Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX); Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Microsoft's Bill Gates. "Tonight's honorees are patriots in the digital revolution," said CEA's Shapiro. "We thank them for their dedication, courage and their willingness to step forward and make a difference."

Upon receiving his award, Chairman Barton noted, "No man is an island. What few of us get credit for is really the hard work of hundreds of others. Thank you for all you do."

Senator Ensign thanked CEA and remarked, "It is a great honor to be here because of what this award stands for - it stands for freedom. More freedom allows us to create, innovate and keep America on the forefront of this global economy."

Gates, who was honored as Innovator of the Year, noted, "Our future is bright. With success comes the opportunity to push forward and challenge some tough problems. Thank you for your support for the cause of innovation."

For more information, including written transcripts and podcasts of the event visit www.CE.org.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy. 


UPCOMING CEA EVENTS

--  EHX Spring 2006
    March 28-April 1, 2006, Orlando, FL

--  CONNECTIONS (TM) - The Digital Home Conference & Showcase
    May 2-4, 2006, Santa Clara, CA

--  2006 PARA Conference
    May 3-7, 2006, Hilton Head, SC

--  The 10th Annual Consumer Electronics CEO Summit
    June 21-24, 2006, Southampton, Bermuda

--  2006 SINOCES
    July 7-10, 2006, Qingdao, China

--  2006 CEA Summer Technology and Standards Forum
    July 24-28, 2006, Coronado, CA

--  CEA Industry Forum
    October 16-18, 2006 San Francisco, CA

--  EHX Fall 2006
    November 14-17, 2006, Long Beach, CA

--  2007 International CES
    January 8-11, 2007, Las Vegas, NV

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
Jeff Joseph, 703-907-7664
jjoseph@CE.org
http://www.CE.org
or
Leah Arnold, 703-907-7626
larnold@CE.org
http://www.CE.org

© Business Wire

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