The National Cable Television Association, based here, and the Consumer Electronics Association (Arlington, Va.) managed to beat a government deadline for resolving differences over the labeling of digital TV receivers with different features. "We will study their agreement with great interest," said William Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Still unresolved is the copy protection issue, which involves manufacturers, cable operators, broadcasters and Hollywood studios. With an industry compromise unlikely, the FCC has launched a review designed to settle the contentious issue. The Consumer Electronics Association argued in comments filed this past week that consumers' recording rights should not be changed in the digital era.