Action Urged On Alleged DTV Price Gouging
A dubiously named industry group formed last year by high-definition television manufacturers VIZIO and Westinghouse Digital to raise awareness about possible price gouging by ATSC-technology patent holders bolstered its Internet presence on Thursday by launching a Web site. The Coalition United to Terminate Financial Abuses of the Television Transition -- or CUT FATT -- said the site will provide "a simple way for consumers to encourage the FCC to hold DTV patent holders accountable, as it has in connection with other violations of digital transition rules. Time is of the essence since analog sets will go dark in just over three months and American consumers are poised to spend more than $2 billion on new digital TVs, CUT FATT spokesman Amos Snead said in a press release.
The FCC recently issued a public notice seeking comment on CUT FATT's petition for rulemaking and request for declaratory filing filed in January that urged the Commission to take immediate action against the alleged mark ups. Visitors to CUTFATT.org can signal their support for that petition by signing an online letter. Comments are due April 27. "When the FCC adopted the ATSC digital television standard, it promised to protect consumers from unreasonable and discriminatory patent fees," Snead said. "CUT FATT applauds the FCC for scrutinizing the demands of patent holders who charge American consumers far more than consumers pay in other countries. Now it is time for American consumers to speak up, and CUT FATT.org makes it easy for them to do so."
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