Digital Television Bill Will Help First Responders, Speed New Technology to Consumers

WASHINGTON - Legislation passed by the House today and authored by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would pave the way for completing the digital television or DTV transition in 2009.

Benefits of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act:

• Making communities safer. Some police, fire departments, and rescue squads already have radio equipment to communicate over the spectrum the broadcasters are supposed to return-they are just awaiting the turnover. Many more public safety officials cannot purchase equipment or begin planning without a date certain. Notably, last year the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (or 9/11 Commission) recommended the expedited return of this spectrum to improve homeland security.
• Bringing new services to consumers and lowering prices. The commercial uses for the spectrum are practically limitless, such as accelerated deployment of wireless broadband capabilities (especially to rural areas) and more competitive choices for high-speed voice, video and data applications.
• Reducing the federal deficit. This particular spectrum is highly valuable, called "beachfront property" by some, and its auction will bring billions of dollars in additional revenue to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the deficit. Several studies suggest that the auction could raise $20-30 billion, and garner hundreds of billions of dollars in additional benefits and savings to consumers and the U.S. economy.
• Growing the economy and creating new jobs. The development of products and services to utilize this spectrum will improve America's global competitiveness and result in significant investment, boosting our economy and creating new jobs.

Specifically the legislation:

• Establishes a February 17, 2009 hard deadline for the end of analog broadcasting, freeing critical spectrum for public safety and wireless broadband use, and is expected to generate at least $10 billion in auction revenues.
• Authorizes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to create a digital-to-analog converter box program to help over-the-air viewers continue to receive broadcast programming.
  • The bill allocates up to $990 million for the program, which will enable households that make an affirmative request to receive by U.S. mail up to two, $40 converter-box coupons. This will help minimize participation by consumers who do not need a subsidized converter-box.
  • The NTIA may use up to $100 million of the $990 million for administrative costs. Up to $5 million of the administrative funds may be used to educate consumers about the digital television transition and the digital-to-analog converter-box program.
  • If NTIA certifies to Congress that it needs more money to fulfill the program, the overall amount available increases to up to $1.5 billion and the administrative amount available increases to up to $160 million.
• The bill also makes up to $1 billion available for a grant program to help public safety agencies obtain and deploy interoperable communications systems.
• Note: Most consumers should be unaffected by the February 17, 2009 deadline, and will not need an over-the-air converter box.
  • Less than 15 percent of households rely exclusively on over-the-air broadcasts.
  • The remaining 85 percent subscribe to a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD), such as a cable or satellite operator. Cable and satellite operators can convert digital broadcast programming to analog-viewable format for these households.

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