Q.	What is a broadcast flag?
A.	The broadcast flag is a sequence of digital bits embedded in a television program that signals that the program must be protected from unauthorized redistribution. It does not distort the viewed picture in any way. Implementation of this broadcast flag will permit digital TV stations to obtain high value content and assure consumers a continued source of attractive, free, over-the-air programming without limiting the consumer’s ability to make personal copies.
Q.	Are digital TV programs any different from what I see on my TV now?
A.	Much like the difference between audio cassettes and CDs or between VHS tapes and DVDs, digital television broadcasts in conjunction with new digital television sets will provide a much higher quality of picture and sound to consumers.
Q.	What is the BPDG?
A.	The Broadcast Protection Discussion Group is a working group comprised of a large number of content providers, television broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, Information Technology companies, interested individuals and consumer activists. The group was formed specifically for the purpose of evaluating the suitability of the broadcast flag for protecting DTV content and to determine whether there was substantial support for the flag. The group completed its mission with the release of the BPDG Report.
Q.	Who created the "broadcast flag?"
A.	The Broadcast Flag was created by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), which is the standards-setting organization that developed the technical specifications for digital television in the U.S.
Q.	The Report stated that the broadcast flag received broad consensus. How can that be possible when they were so many dissents?
A.	Broad consensus was reached on the "broadcast flag" descriptor and most issues relating to compliance and robustness. There was near unanimous agreement on the broadcast flag descriptor itself. There were a few dissenting views regarding some compliance and robustness recommendations, but of some 70 organizations that participated in the BPDG, only some 14 submitted dissenting comments on one or more issues. Of these 14 dissenters, six were self-styled "consumer" groups that appear to be opposed in principle to any restraints whatsoever on the reproduction and redistribution of content.
Q.	When will the broadcast flag be implemented?
A.	The broadcast flag will be successfully implemented once the suppliers of computer and electronics systems that receive broadcast television signals incorporate the technical requirements of the flag into their products. Full implementation is expected to require a legislative and/or regulatory mandate.
Q.	Are all TV programs going to be flagged?
A.	No. The broadcasters that transmit the programming will set the broadcast flag as "on or off" based on private contractual agreements with content providers. Content providers can choose, on a program-by-program basis, whether the flag will be turned on.
Q.	When the broadcast flag is implemented, can I record any TV program with my existing digital player/recorder and watch it later at a more convenient time?
A.	Absolutely. If you own an early model digital player/recorder, you will be able to record and playback time-shifted digital recordings of flagged broadcasts. The broadcast flag does not affect what you have been able to do in the analog world and will not affect your ability to make a personal recording of digital, over-the-air broadcast television programs. The purpose of the broadcast flag is to signal to devices that redistribution of programs marked with the flag are not authorized by the copyright holder.
Q.	Can I record broadcast digital TV programs to my PVR (personal video recorders) such as TiVo?
A.	Yes, in dedicated PVRs with no digital outputs, such as TiVo. However, digital TV tuner cards in Personal Computers using PVR software will need to insure that any recordings of flagged TV programs on to the PC's hard drive are securely protected to prevent unauthorized redistribution to the Internet.
Q.	Can I record digital terrestrial TV programs off my satellite dish? Cable?
A.	Yes, because Satellite and cable services use a proprietary conditional access system to scramble all of their program channels, including retransmissions of digital terrestrial TV broadcasts, they may be obligated, through private rebroadcast contracts, to trigger the same protection from unauthorized redistribution for content as designated, or not, by the flag.
Q.	Can I make a back-up copy of that program for my library?
A.	Yes.
Q.	Does "broadcast flag" prevent digital copying?
A.	No. The broadcast flag is only used to prevent unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content, not prohibit digital copying. But copies made by future digital recorders that comply with the broadcast flag will not be playable on legacy playback devices and consumers will still be able to tape the digital broadcasts for traditional time-shifting uses with analog recorders such as VHS
Q.	Some people say the motion picture and other content industries are simply trying to limit my freedom to do what I want with media I obtain over the air. Is this true?
A.	Absolutely not. The only intent of the broadcast flag is to restrict the unauthorized redistribution of broadcast content in order to insure that high value content will be made available to consumers over free TV and not confined to subscription services. The broadcast flag will in no way interfere with your personal enjoyment of television programming.
Q.	I know people offer Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other programs on the Internet now. Is this illegal? Why?
A.	Yes, it is illegal. Current laws state that redistribution of copyrighted materials without express permission from the copyright holder is illegal. Buffy is a copyrighted program that 20 th Century Fox produces and UPN broadcasts for its audience's personal use and have not authorized the redistribution of their programming via the Internet. If unauthorized copies of programs are widely available on the Internet they cannot be sold in ancillary markets and the owners cannot cover the costs of production.
Q.	Does the broadcast flag stifle innovation in technologies like broadband?
A.	On the contrary, protecting content, broadcast or otherwise, will spur the availability of high definition content and thus spur innovation for the systems, devices and services needed to deliver and support them in a broadband environment.
Q.	Even if the motion picture and other industries come up with a system to protect this content with a broadcast flag, the security technology will just be broken into and made worthless in a very short time. Given that, what's the point?
A.	It is unfortunate that some people may attempt to illegally hack or break into this security system. However, even if a few are successful, the flag will not be worthless. Most people are honest and will not attempt to circumvent the flag. We are hopeful that the broadcast flag will enable content providers to release more of their programming in HDTV format and drive the market forward providing new options for consumers. Consumers should not lose out just because there is threat against the technology.