[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE:
  S. 2607. A bill to make a technical correction to section 3009 of the 
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
would better facilitate the DTV transition for rural Americans by 
making funds for digital upgrades available sooner to low-power 
television stations and translators. The reason this is imperative is 
that we don't want to create another ``digital divide'' where rural and 
low-income areas are not able to reap the benefits of digital TV as 
quickly as their urban counterparts.
  Under the current statute, the Assistant Secretary for Communications 
and Information at the Department of Commerce must make payments for 
the low-power TV and translator upgrade program during fiscal year 
2009--October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009--but may not actually 
disburse reimbursement payments until after October 1, 2010, which is 
20 months past the DTV transition deadline of February 2009.
  By having such a long delay for reimbursements, it will inevitably 
hold up the analog to digital upgrades of low-power TV stations and 
translators. This would adversely affect viewers since they will not be 
able to receive the benefits that digital signals offer and hence 
create this additional ``digital divide'' to these mostly rural and 
low-income areas where low-power TV and translators typically are 
situated.
  This bill would correct this oversight and change the language to 
have the Assistant Secretary make payments during the fiscal years 2009 
to 2012, and start providing reimbursements for the upgrade program on 
February 18, 2009, and in doing so will move up the date 20 months to 
bring the upgrade program more in line with the main deadline of the 
DTV transition. This will allow LPTV and translators to be reimbursed 
more quickly for analog to digital equipment upgrades, which can run in 
the tens of thousands of dollars.
  As we all know, in less than 380 days, on February 17, 2009, 
television broadcasts will transition from analog TV signals to an all-
digital system and in doing so begin a new chapter of innovation and 
viewing experience. The transition will free up scarce broadcast 
spectrum so that first responders and public safety services have much 
needed spectrum capacity. It will also provide space for advanced 
wireless technologies, which will bring us improved broadband and 
communications services. In addition, the new digital TV signals will 
provide higher quality video and sound, as well as the opportunity for 
broadcasters to offer new services such as interactive TV and 
multicasting, which allows the transmission of several program streams 
on one broadcast channel.
  Consumer awareness of the DTV transition is improving and the 
Commerce Department announced earlier this month that it had already 
received requests from more than 2 million households for nearly 4 
million converter box coupons--so demand is strong. More and more 
consumers are realizing the importance and benefits of the DTV 
transition. We must not unduly prohibit any American from not reaping 
the tremendous advantages of digital TV and other services that will 
quickly follow due to the transition. If we don't correct this critical 
oversight in the current law, we will do just that, once again 
disadvantaging the areas and people that have the most to gain from 
this new technology. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues 
join me in supporting the critical legislation.
  Mr. President. I yield the floor.

                                S. 2607

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE DIGITAL TELEVISION 
                   TRANSITION AND PUBLIC SAFETY FUND.

       Section 3009(a) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 
     (Public Law 109-171) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``fiscal 
     years 2009 through 2012; and''
       (2) by striking ``no earlier than October 1, 2010'' and 
     inserting ``on or after February 18, 2009''.
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