Accord Reached on Digital TV Set Labels

The cable television industry and TV set manufacturers, to avoid imposition of federal regulations, reached an agreement on labels for digital TV sets, a move that could spur sales. The National Cable Television Assn. and the Consumer Electronics Assn. have feuded for months about labels for different features. The Federal Communications Commission, worried that imprecise labeling would lead to consumer confusion and slow the shift to digital, planned to adopt labeling rules in a few months. The two groups agreed that labels will say “Digital TV-Cable Interactive” on sets with interactive capabilities and “Digital TV-Cable Connect” on those without. Digital TV sets bearing the new labels will be on the market by the fourth quarter of 2001, the manufacturers group estimated. FCC Chairman William Kennard said he was pleased that the groups reached an accord, which the agency will study. The technology allows for higher-resolution, wide-screen pictures and CD-quality sound, interactive features and more channels.