Federal Communication confusion

1939
Television debuts at New York World’s Fair.

1941
National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) drafts first TV broadcast standard.

1953
NTSC adopts RCA’s color system over CBS’s competing scheme, which wouldn’t have worked with existing black-and-white TVs.

1997
FCC mandates that broadcasters swap their analog frequency spectra for new digital spectra by 2006.

1998
Major networks commit to digital broadcasting in top 10 markets, serving 30 percent of viewers.

1999
Major networks supposed to be digitally broadcasting to top 30 markets, serving 50 percent of viewers.

2002
FCC mandates all new TVs to include digital tuners. Industry complains the action will drive up TV prices, slowing digital conversion.

2005
TV manufacturers to stop making analog TVs.

2006
Networks to stop broadcasting analog signals. Spectra to revert to the FCC, which will auction them off for other uses. Local markets will continue to broadcast analog until 85 percent of the population is able to receive digital signal.