• by Wayne Friedman , January 9, 2008

LAS VEGAS -- Although there are concerns in business quarters that consumers aren't ready for the conversion to digital television, the Federal Communications Commission is charging ahead.

"There's no question that there's a hard date," FCC chairman Kevin Martin explained to Gary Shapiro, Consumer Electronics Association president and CEO, during a session at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday.

Martin did say the FCC could do more in getting the advertising campaigns to work better, informing consumers about the major change to digital from analog that will come in February 2009--but there's no rush.

"You don't want to be putting too much emphasis too early," he added.

Some consumer groups are concerned that the government's digital TV coupons--which can be exchanged for a low-priced converter--have a short three-month expiration date, which isn't enough time.

In discussing other topics, such as the FCC-backed plan for a la carte cable programming, Martin says the FCC still believes it is the best approach to lower monthly cable bills. In contrast to other communications services which have seen price declines, such as wireless and long-distance services, cable prices have doubled since 1996.

The cable industry has explained that it has added plenty of value to cable packages, such as hundreds of new programming channels.