Last week, the FCC granted the requests of three consumer electronics manufacturers to waive the "Tuner Rule" to allow Mobile DTV receivers to exclude analog reception capability (and, in some cases, non-mobile digital tuners). The FCC granted the waiver because it would facilitate the introduction of television receivers with Mobile DTV tuners that are designed to be used in motion. The waiver applies to cell phones, PDAs, laptops, netbooks and receivers used in cars that include Mobile DTV tuners. NAB filed comments supporting the waiver; the comments received by the Commission were unanimous in support.

As a condition of the waiver, the FCC required disclosure to consumers that a specific device does not have the capability to receive analog (or standard digital) signals. Mindful that the analog television standard is still widely used by low-power broadcasters, the FCC noted that it expects to require LPTV stations to cease broadcasting analog signals within the near future. In addition, it stated that the waiver will expand access to the new mobile DTV technology without reducing access to the old analog technology while it is still being used.