Retailers Not Making NTSC-Only Clear (Jun 20, 2007)

As of March the 1st, 2007, electronics stores and other places that sell TV and VCR sets, as well as TV tuner cards for computers, must begin selling the items with NTSC-only tuners with a "Consumer Alert" notice stating that this is an NTSC-only receiver and cannot receive the over-the-air ATSC broadcasts that will become the exclusive way of broadcasting television signals as of February 17, 2009.

The Commission's digital tuner rule states that all new TVs must include ATSC tuners. This rule prohibits the manufacture, import, or interstate shipment of any device containing an NTSC tuner, unless it also contains an ATSC tuner. Despite this prohibition on manufacture and shipment, retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory.

The lone exceptions are TV monitors and video recording devices that are manufactured without a tuner.

Most of the VCR boxes I've seen have the "Consumer Alert" notice on the top of the box for VCRs that don't have an ATSC tuner.

Many stores I have visited are still displaying older TV sets, VCRs, and other television receiving machines without a displayed notice that the model is incapable of receiving ATSC broadcasts.

Some places went so far out as to say that the older TV and VCR sets have "digital" tuners. All TV and VCRs have digital tuners, per se, but not all of them on display have digital tuners that are capable of receiving ATSC broadcasts. Why are the electronics stores bending the words to confuse consumers into purchasing obsolete equipment?

The FCC has issued a citation to many retailers including Kmart, Amazon.com, Fry's Electronics, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, Sears, CompUSA, and other stores (apparently Wal-Mart isn't on the list as I've seen the notices displayed by the NTSC-only TV sets) for failing to provide the notice, officially titled the "Consumer Alert" disclosure, for TV set models that have only an NTSC tuner. This was in violation of Section 15.117(k) of the FCC's rules.

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has visited several websites to prove their case and observed that the proper Consumer Alert notices on NTSC-only tuning TV sets were not present, and since such equipent lacked an ATSC tuner, the stores and websites were required to display the Consumer Alert notices next to the item being sold.

Section 15.117(k) of the Commission’s Rules states:

(k) The following requirements apply to all responsible parties, as defined in §2.909 of this chapter, and any person that displays or offers for sale or rent television receiving equipment that is not capable of receiving, decoding and tuning digital signals.

(1) Such parties and persons shall place conspicuously and in close proximity to such television broadcast receivers a sign containing, in clear and conspicuous print, the Consumer Alert disclosure text required by subparagraph (3). The text should be in a size of type large enough to be clear, conspicuous and readily legible, consistent with the dimensions of the equipment and the label. The information may be printed on a transparent material and affixed to the screen, if the receiver includes a display, in a manner that is removable by the consumer and does not obscure the picture, or, if the receiver does not include a display, in a prominent location on the device, such as on the top or front of the device, when displayed for sale, or the information in this format may be displayed separately immediately adjacent to each television broadcast receiver offered for sale and clearly associated with the analog-only model to which it pertains.

(2) If such parties and persons display or offer for sale or rent such television broadcast receivers via direct mail, catalog, or electronic means, they shall prominently display in close proximity to the images or descriptions of such television broadcast receivers, in clear and conspicuous print, the Consumer Alert disclosure text required by subparagraph (3). The text should be in a size large enough to be clear, conspicuous, and readily legible, consistent with the dimensions of the advertisement or description.

(3) “CONSUMER ALERT This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: www.dtv.gov."

The FCC warned that if the stores in violation do not post the "Consumer Alert" notices to the NTSC-only receiving TV sets, then the FCC has the right to impose monetary penalties not to exceed $11,000 for each such violation of each day of a continuing violation up to $97,500 for a single continuing violation.

Fry's Electronics have been mostly in violation of the rule in the last four months as I have seen a full isle of NTSC-only VCRs that lack an ATSC tuner. Just recently, Fry's complied and is posting the "Consumer Notice" next to most of the VCRs, but I suspect that not all of the VCRs that have NTSC-only tuners are displayed with a "Consumer Alert" notice as required. As far as I know, Fry's doesn't sell VCRs with ATSC tuners built-in; you can find them at Wal-Mart, and now Target is selling such remodled VCRs. Fry's might as well donate all of their analog-only NTSC VCRs to Goodwill and be done with the relics of the analog television era for once and for all.

Fry's Can't Do HD Radio Right (Jun 20, 2007)

For a wider selection of HD Radio units, check out my website http://hdradio.davesfunstuff.com/. If you care to purchase one, be forewarned about the reception issues because most of them are broadcasting the HD digital channels with wattage no higher than that of a microwave oven!

Letters: Fry's New VCRs Pusses Out (Jun 21, 2007)

I hope Fry's goes out of business for pushing crap like this on the public.

Electronics Stores Don't Know HD Radio (June 19, 2007)

John Gorman: For some mysterious reason, every Wal-Mart store I’ve stopped in over the past week didn’t have any HD Radio units displayed – and had none for sale. And I got the same response I did three and six months ago when I asked about HD Radio. “You mean HD TV?” “No, HD Radio.” “Do you mean HD DVD or Blue-Ray? We have those…” “No, HD Radio. It’s a new product.” “We have satellite radio.” “No, HD Radio.” "I have yet to find one clerk in any Wal-Mart that even knows of HD Radio. John Gorman also writes about his woes with Best Buy. Same identical dialogue. Also said, "Face facts. HD Radio doesn’t work. Period. End of story. Fini. Commit to memory the swindler…er…advisor that convinced you HD radio was worth the investment. Remember, Caesar considered Brutus a loyal advisor, too."

Media Hack Chris, SDR: "Rat Shack and Short Sircuit City ... plus Fried Electronics are the WORST when knowing something about the technology they sell."