[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S9520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Hatch):
  S. 1600. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure 
full access to digital television in areas served by low-power 
television, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I have the support of many of my colleagues 
on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to 
introduce legislation to help rural America transition to an age of 
digital television. Television is an important media outlet for local 
news, weather and information. Years ago, it was decided that the 
United States should transition to a higher standard of television 
service. Digital television is much more than simply a sharper picture; 
it allows for an increase in the number of channels, more efficient use 
of spectrum and many new features for consumers. As the Senate 
considers broader digital television transition legislation, it is 
important not to leave rural America behind.
  The bill I introduce today is aimed to assist translator stations and 
low power analog stations. Translator stations are small stations that 
repeat a signal from full power stations so that the signal may be 
reached in remote areas. Low power analog TV stations are television 
stations that typically serve smaller, rural communities. While 
translators and low power analog TV stations are located in many parts 
of the country, most are concentrated in rural areas, including many 
parts of Maine.
  There has been a long time understanding that low power stations 
would not be a part of the full power digital television transition. 
This understanding, however, does not mean that Congress can simply 
look away. We must ensure that low power stations have the necessary 
time and adequate funds to move into the digital age. The Digital Low 
Power Television Transition Act aims to address these needs.
  First, the bill I am introducing today puts a deadline for the low 
power digital televison transition four years out from whatever the 
hard date is that Congress ultimately decides for the full power 
digital television transition. Full power stations have had years to 
transition to digital. Low power stations have yet to even receive 
their digital allocations, and therefore need additional time to 
upgrade equipment. This delay will also allow consumers in rural areas 
to continue to use analog television sets to receive over-the-air 
signals until digital television equipment becomes more prevalent in 
small town consumer electronics stores.
  Second, the Digital Translator and Low Power Television Transition 
bill establishes a grant program within the National Telecommunications 
and Information Agency, NTIA, to help defray the cost of upgrading 
translators and low power television stations from analog to digital. 
This money for the grant program would come from a trust fund set up 
with proceeds of the spectrum auctions that will take place because of 
the full power digital television transition. The Federal 
Communications Commission, FCC, estimates that approximately $100 
million will be needed for the 4474 translators and 2071 low power 
analog and to upgrade. The trust fund's size reflects the FCC's 
estimate.
  The goal of this Act is to assist the rural, low power stations 
without interrupting the greater digital televison transition. Because 
of the secondary status of translators and low power stations, the 
auction of full power analog spectrum will remain unaffected. These 
stations do play an important role in rural communities, therefore this 
bill calls upon the FCC to report to Congress on the status of 
translators and low power analog.
  This bill is not meant to be a comprehensive approach to the digital 
television transition. It is merely a solution to one of the many 
questions Congress will face this Congress. Rural America deserves the 
same benefits that digital televison will bring that will be available 
in urban areas. This Act gives translators, low power analog and Class 
A stations the assistance they need to smoothly transition to digital.
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