USA mandates HDTV

[Robin Whittle]

Bernard reported that the US was forcing the change to digital HDTV, 
and that one observer thought this was unique:

> http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/10/biztech/articles/26hdtv.html
> The Dawn of HDTV, Ready or Not
> By JOEL BRINKLEY
> 
> WASHINGTON
> In six days, the nation begins the government-mandated changeover to
> digital broadcasting -- a transition with no real precedent.
> 
> No other national technological transition has ever been backed by
> this sort of government decree. Nobody was forced to trade a horse
> for an automobile, a Victrola for a radio, a typewriter for a
> computer.

Australia, in our familiar World Class manner, beat the Yanks to it:

   http://www.dca.gov.au/nsapi-text/?MIval=dca_dispdoc&ID=3089

According to the bill passed in July, Australian analogue TV will end 
at in December 2008.

- Robin



===============================================================

Robin Whittle     rw@firstpr.com.au  http://www.firstpr.com.au
                  Heidelberg Heights, Melbourne, Australia 

First Principles  Research and expression: music, Internet 
                  music marketing, telecommunications, human 
                  factors in technology adoption. Consumer 
                  advocacy in telecommunications, especially 
                  privacy. Consulting and technical writing. 

Real World        Electronics and software for music: eg.
Interfaces        the Devil Fish mods for the TB-303. 

===============================================================