[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 75 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRANSITION TO DIGITAL TELEVISION

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to direct my 
colleagues attention to the technological changes and developments 
going on in the television industry. Many people have said that the 
transition from analog to digital television broadcasts is the biggest 
innovation in TV since color television. Having seen a digital 
broadcast, it is as if you are watching the program or sporting event 
in person. I believe consumers will want to bring this technology into 
their homes.
  I do not believe that we have yet discovered the full use of digital 
broadcast signals, but I do know that it has the potential to change 
the way people interact with their TVs. Imagine being able to 
participate in realtime with a game show on television or being able to 
``chat'' with other viewers from around the country during a show. DTV 
may provide the platform for a more interactive television experience.
  I am particularly interested to see how these technologies can be 
employed to allow local stations to better serve local communities. For 
the past half-century, local broadcasters have provided valuable 
services to their local communities. When disasters strike, important, 
life saving information is often disseminated over the airwaves. Local 
stations also keep residents informed of community political issues, 
thereby engaging citizens in the local democratic process.
  Since its inception, the broadcasting industry has been founded on 
two important concepts: the idea of localism and the idea that 
broadcasting should be free, and over-the-air. I am proud to say that a 
number of Georgia stations are working to ensure that they continue to 
serve local communities with free, over the air signals in the digital 
era.
  In my state, we have digital television stations up and broadcasting 
in four communities. In Atlanta seven stations have digital signals on 
the air: WAGA, WATL, WGCL, WPXA, WSB, WTBS, and WXIA. In Savannah WTOC 
is on the air in digital; in Augusta WFXG and WRDW-TV are broadcasting 
in digital, and in Columbus, WLTZ and WXTX are serving Georgia viewers 
with digital television. These Georgia broadcasters have taken the next 
step in television, and for that I commend them. The transition to 
digital can be expensive, particularly for smaller stations.
  To broadcast in digital, these businesses have invested in new 
transmission equipment and, in some cases, new broadcast towers. If 
they choose to produce their own digital content, like digital local 
news, they must invest in digital cameras and editing equipment. 
Finally, once their digital signal is on-the-air, the stations must pay 
the bills to transmit two signals simultaneously to ensure viewers can 
receive both a digital and analog broadcast.
  Despite the expenses, these Georgia stations have recognized that 
digital television is the future. I am confident that their investment 
in digital television will pay off and I commend them for leading the 
digital television charge.

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