Consumer education

(a)

Consumer education requirements

Section 330 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 330) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (2)by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:

(d)

Consumer education requirements regarding analog receivers

(1)

Requirements for retailers

Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of the Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2007— (A)any retail distributor that displays for sale or rent any analog-only television sets shall place conspicuously in the vicinity of such television sets a sign containing, in clear and conspicuous print, the consumer alert described in paragraph (2); and (B)any retail distributor that offers for sale or rent such television sets via direct mail, catalog, or electronic means shall prominently display in the vicinity of all advertisements or descriptions of such television sets, in clear and conspicuous print, the consumer alert described in paragraph (2). (2)

Digital television transition information

The consumer alert required by this paragraph shall read as follows:

CONSUMER ALERT

This TV has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting. The TV should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1–888–225–5322 (TTY: 1–888–835–5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: www.dtv.gov.

(3)

MVPD outreach

During the period beginning May 1, 2007, and ending February 17, 2009, each multichannel video programming distributor (as such term is defined in section 602 of this Act) shall include a notice in any monthly or other periodic bill that informs consumers of— (A)the digital television transition; and (B)the options consumers have after the transition to continue to receive broadcast programming, including over the air or through a multichannel video programming distribution service. (4)

Broadcaster outreach

During the period beginning on May 1, 2007, and ending November 3, 2008, each full-power commercial television broadcast licensee or permittee shall file, at least once every 90 days, either individually or jointly (such as through an association), a report with the Commission indicating the steps each such licensee or permittee has taken during the preceding 90 days, and any steps such licensee or permittee plans to take in the 90 days following the report, to inform consumers of the information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3). Each such report shall indicate for each such licensee or permittee the time, frequency, and content of any public service announcements relating to the digital television transition that it has aired, or that it has not aired any. (5)

Penalty

In addition to any other civil or criminal penalty provided by law, the Commission may issue civil forfeitures for violations of the requirements of this subsection in an amount equal to not more than 3 times the amount of the forfeiture penalty established by section 503(b)(2)(A). (6)

Sunset

The requirements of this subsection shall cease to apply on December 1, 2009. (7)

Definition

For the purposes of this subsection, the term analog-only television set means any apparatus that— (A)is designed to receive broadcast television signals; (B)has an integrated display screen or is sold in a bundle with a display screen; and (C)is not capable of receiving broadcast signals in the digital television service.

(b)

Commission outreach

(1)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall establish and maintain a digital television transition public outreach program. The Commission may seek the assistance of private entities, such as broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers, multichannel video programming distributors, and consumer groups in administering the program. The digital television transition public outreach program shall educate consumers about— (A)the digital television transition; (B)the options consumers have after the transition to continue to receive broadcast programming, including over the air or through a multichannel video programming distribution service; and (C)the converter-box program under section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note). (2)

Website

The Commission shall maintain and publicize a website, or an easily accessible page on its website, containing the digital television transition public outreach information required under paragraph (1), as well as any links to other websites the Commission determines to be appropriate. (3)

DTV working group on consumer outreach and assistance

(A)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the DTV Working Group, to consult with State and local governments, providers of low-income assistance programs, educational institutions, community groups, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to promote consumer outreach and assistance regarding the digital television transition and the converter-box program under section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note). (B)

Membership

The Federal Communications Commission shall invite to participate in the DTV Working Group representatives of groups involved with the transition to digital television, including the Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, other relevant Federal agencies, commercial and noncommercial television broadcasters, multichannel video programming distributors, consumer electronics manufacturers and manufacturers of peripheral devices, broadcast antenna and tuner manufacturers, retail providers of consumer electronics equipment, consumer groups, and public interest groups (including the American Association of Retired Persons and the Seniors Coalition). Members of the DTV Working Group shall serve without compensation and shall not be considered Federal employees by reason of their service on the advisory committee. (C)

Purposes

The purposes of the DTV Working Group are— (i)to provide ongoing advice to the Federal Communications Commission in creating and implementing the public outreach program under this subsection; (ii)to advise the Commission about the procedures of the public outreach program including, at a minimum, recommended procedures for public service announcements by broadcasters, toll-free information hotlines, and retail displays or notices; and (iii)to provide to the Commission regular DTV Progress Reports that reflect ongoing and planned efforts by the private sector, both nationally and in individual television broadcast markets, to inform consumers about the digital television transition. (c)

Converter-box energy standards

Section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)

Converter-box energy standards

(1)

Energy standards

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2007, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information shall establish energy consumption standards applicable to digital-to-analog converter boxes (as defined in subsection (d)) in order for such boxes to qualify for purchase with coupons made available under this section. (2)

Inapplicability

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the standards described in paragraph (1) shall be the exclusive energy consumption standards for converter boxes manufactured or imported for use in the United States on and after the effective date established by the Assistant Secretary and until January 1, 2010.