Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters

This executive order establishes a 15-member advisory committee to recommend public interest obligations for digital television broadcasters, with a report due to the Vice President by June 1, 1998. The committee draws members from broadcasting, technology, academic, and public interest communities, with administrative support from the Department of Commerce.

Federal Register Open PDF 62 FR 12065

Impact dates

Jun 1, 1998
Committee report to Vice President on public interest obligations of digital television broadcasters
Apr 10, 1997
Committee terminates 30 days after submitting report

Key directives

Establish Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters with maximum 15 members
Committee to report to Vice President on public interest obligations of digital television broadcasters by June 1, 1998
Department of Commerce to provide administrative services, staff, and support to Committee
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to perform FACA functions
Committee terminates 30 days after submitting report unless extended by President

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Committee establishment
President to appoint up to 15 members and designate Chair

Near term (90d)

Committee formation and organizational meetings

Long term

Report to Vice President due June 1, 1998
Committee terminates 30 days after report submission

Risks & tensions

Committee composition spans competing commercial and public interest perspectives, creating potential for deadlock on 'public interest' definition
Vague scope of 'public interest obligations' leaves open whether recommendations would be advisory or precursors to binding FCC rules
Dependency on voluntary agency cooperation and available appropriations may limit Committee effectiveness
Relatively long 15-month timeline to report risks technological obsolescence of recommendations in rapidly evolving digital TV market