Determining the next U.S. television standard

The history of television technology is characterized by innovation and standardization. Technological refinements have been both propelled and constrained by the standardization process. The ongoing effort to replace the entrenched U.S. television system with a new, superior standard has been underway for a decade and has undergone several significant evolutions. Over the years, as the proposed replacement standard has been defined and redefined, a strategy has emerged that has moved the technology closer to the marketplace. This article provides a synopsis and analysis of recent events in the U.S. digital television standards-setting process and a set of public policy recommendations to guide the remaining proceedings.