[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN SUPPORT OF THE HDTV TRANSITION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 2002

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of an 
exciting new technology. Local television broadcasters across the 
country are undertaking their biggest advancement in years: the 
transition to digital television. These stations aim to provide new 
services to their viewers, our constituents. Digital TV opens the door 
to new possibilities like High Definition TV, interactive television, 
and expanded programming options and choices.
  The stations in Houston that serve my district are already 
transmitting digital signals. I am proud of my hometown broadcasters: 
the CBS affiliate KHOU, which is owned by the Texas based Belo 
Corporation; KPRC, owned by Post-Newsweek; KTRK, owned by ABC; KRIV and 
KTXH owned by FOX; KUHT; and my local PBS station. These local 
broadcasters are leading the charge into the future.
  These TV stations are small businesses like any other. They have made 
substantial investments in new transmitting facilities, new production 
equipment, and in some cases new broadcast towers. Collectively, the 
broadcast industry has invested over a billion dollars in the future of 
free, over-the-air digital television.
  The digital transition will accelerate significantly as more 
television sets with digital tuners are manufactured. Like any 
technology, digital television sets started out as expensive, but are 
rapidly becoming more affordable. The prices for digital television 
sets have dropped fifty percent in the last two years and continue 
dropping today. I look forward to a day when digital television tuners 
are so widespread that all consumers can afford to make the conversion 
and receive their local stations' free digital signals.
  The transition to digital television will be, undoubtedly, a multi-
step process. In the meantime, I am proud of my hometown stations for 
leading the way. Let me offer my thanks and congratulations to them for 
flipping the digital switch.




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