The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the consumer Electronics Association (CEA) don't always see eye to eye, but they've united to oppose a mandatory regulation for DTV adapters announced by the California Energy Commission (CEC). NAB and CEA say the energy consumption limits are based on faulty data and don't even take into account the huge energy savings from TV stations shutting down their analog transmitters. According to a joint statement from CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro and NAB President and CEO David Rehr, California will, in fact, give up more than 1.6 million bucks in energy savings for each month that the DTV transition is delayed. And if the Golden State goes ahead with its own stricter rules for DTV converter boxes, as it already does with automobiles, California residents will have to pay more for the converters - - once someone actually manufacturers them.

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"The CEC has acted prematurely, setting energy standards for a product that is not yet on the market. The federal government is preparing to announce a USD1 billion program to help American families purchase these converters so they can continue to receive television over-the-air once the nation shifts to DTV - - including the millions of Californians who rely solely on over-the-air television reception. By mandating energy consumption specifications for these products before government and industry have the opportunity to define what types of converter boxes will be eligible for the subsidy, the CEC's regulation jeopardizes the ability of Californians to participate in this program in a meaningful way. The regulations could force the boxes eligible for sale in California to come at a premium price, reducing the value of the subsidy," the CEA/NAB joint statement said. The two organizations appealed to CEC to withdraw its DTV set box energy regulations.

"Alarmingly, the CEC has promulgated this regulation on false facts and assumptions concerning DTV converters. For example, the CEC concluded that 46,000 digital television converters are in use throughout California, despite the fact that set-top DTV converters are not available on the market in the United States. Nonetheless, the Commission conducted a cost-benefit analysis and calculated energy consumption and savings figures for this non-existent product," CEA/NAB said.

RBR observation:
Sound like a rerun of California's brilliant electric power "deregulation" that, instead of reducing prices, led to price spikes and occasional blackouts. Is there no end to bureaucratic stupidity in this state?