[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HOUSTON DIGITAL BROADCAST

 Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate 
the city of Houston on its recent designation as a ``Digital Television 
Zone.'' Viewers in Houston are fortunate to be served by local 
television stations that are broadcasting in digital. These stations 
are: KPRC, the NBC affiliate; KHOU, the CBS affiliate; KRIV, the local 
FOX station; KTRK, the local ABC owned and operated station; KTXH, a 
FOX owned UPN affiliate; and KUHT, the local PBS station.
  I would like to especially note KPRC, a Post-Newsweek owned NBC 
affiliate, where I had the privilege to work in a former life as a 
journalist.
  As the broadcast industry undertakes its transition to digital 
television, I am proud to say all these local Houston stations are 
already fully on the air in digital. For those not familiar with 
digital television, it is the next step in the evolution of television. 
Just as other communication mediums are moving from an analog to a 
digital format, television is too.
  This year, coverage of the Olympics' opening ceremonies and the NCAA 
Men's Basketball Championship was broadcast in High-definition digital 
television. Today, Houston viewers can watch popular programs like 
``Drew Carey,'' ``NYPD Blue,'' and ``the Tonight Show'' in High 
Definition TV. Programming like this will propel the transition forward 
and encourage consumers to invest in digital technology--like their 
local broadcasters have done already.
  In January, as one of only three cities in the country with all 
affiliates on the air in digital, Houston earned the distinction of 
being designated a ``Digital TV Zone.'' Houston broadcasters pooled 
their resources over the past year to educate Houston consumers about 
digital TV technology and its benefits. The local stations cooperated 
with electronics manufacturers and retailers to post digital sets in 
high traffic areas throughout the city.
  Houston broadcasters are doing their part to launch the digital 
television future. As with other technological advances, there will be 
challenges before consumers can fully benefit from everything digital 
TV offers. There are issues about making digital television sets 
capable of communicating with digital VCRs and DVD players. There are 
questions about the availability of digital tuners in new TV sets. 
Importantly, American consumers will need to embrace digital 
television. Despite these remaining questions, I am proud to say that 
Houston broadcasters are ready for the digital future.

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