FCC Expects Increase in DTV Complaints

July 14, 2008

According to a Congressionally-mandated five-year strategic plan issued last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expecting to receive an increase in complaints related to the digital television transition. The plan states that the FCC expects additional media consolidation due to the costs of the conversion to digital transmissions next year.

Lawsuits Against the FCC May Result from DTV Conversion

The FCC is also preparing for lawsuits as a result of the DTV (digital television) conversion next year. As stated in the plan, "Congress has mandated a transition to DTV that will require coordination with all aspects of the distribution system. Court challenges of FCC rules and polices to advance the DTV transition may also result."

The FCC's last round of media-ownership rules have resulted in court challenges and additional legal costs for the agency. Congress's ruling to continue to review the FCC's rules in this area may result in additional legal challenges.

FCC Cites Need for Sufficient Staff to Handle Complaints

The FCC also cites the need for sufficient staff, including attorneys and mediation specialists, to handle any increase in complaints and lawsuits.

"The digital transition requires continuing education of FCC technical staff to maintain an up-to-date understanding of developments in communications technology," the agency stated in the five-year plan. It continues, "Moreover, to the extent the number of consumer complaints against broadcast stations continues to grow, the FCC must have sufficient personnel (e.g., attorneys and consumer-advocacy and mediation specialists) and technological resources to efficiently process such complaints in a timely manner. The FCC will also need to maintain sufficient technical personnel (e.g., engineers) to enforce compliance with technical and operational rules."