FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Rich Taylor
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
202/293-1966

Washington, D.C. December 6, 2002 - Citing the need to ensure that consumers receive the highest quality broadcast content available, a broad array of organizations today filed comments in support of a Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") proposal that would provide protections against the redistribution of digital broadcast television programming. Groups filing jointly today included the Motion Picture Association of America ("MPAA"), ABC, ABC Television Affiliates Association, AFMA, American Association of Advertising Agencies ("AAAA"), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ("AFTRA"), American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ("ASCAP"), Association for Maximum Service Television, Belo Corp., Broadcast Music, Inc. ("BMI"), CBS, Directors Guild of America ("DGA"), Fox Broadcasting Company ("FBC"), International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees ("IATSE") Motion Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, AFL-CIO, CIC, National Association of Broadcasters ("NAB"), Screen Actors Guild, Inc. ("SAG"), Writers Guild of America, east, Inc., and Writers Guild of America, west, Inc.

Because it is transmitted in the clear, digital broadcast television is subject to an extraordinarily high risk of unauthorized redistribution over digital networks such as the Internet. Today's filing notes that the threat of such wide-scale piracy, if not addressed, will discourage content providers from making their high-value programming available over free, off-air broadcast television. Such a development would impair the transition to digital television and deny consumers high-quality over-the-air content.

"The FCC's proposal is the fruit of the broad, multi-industry consensus that had previously been reached on the fundamental aspects of the broadcast flag technology," said MPAA President and CEO Jack Valenti. "This broad agreement between consumer electronics, information technology and content communities has provided a sound foundation for the FCC and demonstrates the positive results that come from meaningful discussion between disparate parties."

Today's filing also demonstrated FCC jurisdiction in this matter, citing express statutory authority under 47 U.S.C. § 336 to adopt rules to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital terrestrial broadcast television programming. The filing further notes that the Commission has ancillary jurisdiction to adopt such rules under Titles I and III of the Communications Act. An objective review of the jurisdiction issue makes clear that the Commission has ample authority to act under existing legislation.

Those filing today also underscored the consumer upside to the implementation of the proposed broadcast flag. By ensuring the reasonable protection of high-quality, high-value over-the-air broadcast programming, consumers will be able to receive and enjoy programming delivered in the finest achievable quality. Additionally, the increase in such programming that will occur with broadcast flag implementation will speed the consumer and content-provider embrace of DTV.

Under the FCC's proposed rule, the home consumer will still be able to record protected digital broadcast content and distribute that content within the personal digital network environment, defined as the home or similar local environment. Furthermore, implementation of the Broadcast Flag solution will have no impact on existing consumer equipment.

To view the entire filing, click here.