NEWS                                                    November
26, 1996

                              Press Statement
                                    of
                       Commissioner James H. Quello

Re:  Compromise Standard for Advanced Digital Television


    I want to congratulate the broadcast and computer industries
for reaching agreement
on a standard for advanced digital television.  I emphasize the
term 'standard' because,
despite the efforts of some to minimize this achievement or cast
it as something else, let
there be no doubt that the all important and, now, agreed upon
transmission standard will
be incorporated into our rules.  This Commission must adopt the
very slightly revised
ATSC compromise standard before the end of 1996.
  
    Prompt adoption of this standard will allow the United States
to retain its pre-
eminent global position in advanced digital broadcast 
technologies.  The industries have
worked in their mutual interest to avoid the marketplace chaos
that would have resulted
from the failure to adopt a standard.

    I want to thank Commissioner Ness for her unwavering
commitment in challenging
the parties to work together in a timely manner.  Commissioner
Ness stepped into the
leadership vacuum and chaired the effort to bring about
consensus.  I am gratified that the
parties heeded the call I made in September to conclude this
process this year.  It is now
up to the Commission to  adopt the standard without delay so that
the manufacturers can
begin hiring people to make the sets to deliver much more than
just "pretty pictures".  

    There are other elements of the DTV proceeding that the FCC
must also resolve. 
In particular, the channel allotment issues are critically
important.  Until the new digital
channels are assigned to broadcasters, the standard cannot be
implemented.  We must
continue to move forward with all deliberate speed. 

    Today, however, we must congratulate the parties for reaching
an eminently sensible
compromise on the underlying standard. This day has been too long
in coming.  Finally,
Americans will enjoy the long promised benefits of computer
compatible television
broadcasts with dramatically improved picture and audio clarity. 
Adopting the compromise
standard will take free over-the-air broadcasting into the next
century. 

                                  - FCC -