While other industry groups have had sharp drops in attendance si...

on “who is responsible for delays” in transition to DTV, none of panelists would accept blame for lag. All conceded there was long way to go, but “we're well on the way,” said Jack Goodman of NAB. Viacom’s Martin Franks said “we're in pretty good shape… I'm counting on the fact that we have a compelling product [programming].” “The public stations are doing very well,” said Marilyn Mohrman-Gillis of APTS. By end of year, she said, 50% of public stations would be digital, 80% by end of 2003. Lack of “interoperability” of TV sets is largest single problem, said CEA’s Michael Petricone: “That’s got to be fixed… We're [set manufacturers] committed to working with the cable industry.” NCTA’s Daniel Brenner blamed copyright problems and lack of digital set-top boxes -- “they're not in mass production” -- for delay. Broadcasters were critical of cable MSOs for their alleged failure to negotiate carriage with broadcasters. Franks several times mentioned CBS’s deal with AOL-Time Warner and gave his phone number in urging other MSOs to seek similar deals. Brenner countered that he “completely disagreed” with most of Franks’s complaints against MSOs. Mohrman-Gillis said public stations “have made a well-worn path” to MSOs seeking carriage and it was “irrational” and “absolutely contrary” to public interest that all public TV stations weren’t on cable systems. Goodman said “the FCC must take a fresh look” at technology issues involving transition.