European Commission Adopts Transition Plan for Digital Broadcasting

The European Commission adopted a plan for migrating to digital radio and television transmission, and ultimately switching off analog transmission, in a consumer-friendly fashion. The plan does not set a common date for mandatory digital transmission, instead calls on EU member states to provide incentives for consumers to migrate to digital television voluntarily. Member states are required to publish their switchover plans by the end of 2003. The EC is also opening debate on what to do with the resulting spectrum when analog broadcasting is ultimately shut off.http://europa.eu.int