While speaking at the meeting, Mr Sobyanin noted that "we are planning to combine analogue and digital television at first, so as to make the switch as easy as possible for the population." He said the stages of the switch have already been worked out, and that it would start in the country's Far Eastern regions.

The Commission discussed so-called digital television pilot zones, areas where digital television will be introduced before the rest of the country to work out any unforeseen issues. Mr Sobyanin reported that such zones will be established in Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Khanty-Mansiisk, and Mordovia, and experience gained from these areas would be used for the subsequent nationwide switch to digital television.

The Commission also discussed issues related to digital television frequencies and broadcast range, government support for domestic producers of the digital television and radio equipment, and regulating imports of equipment unable to receive a digital signal.

Mr Sobyanin emphasized that it is also necessary to determine requirements for customs and producers of digital television equipment. These requirements must conform to Russian standards.