[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             DTV DELAY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2009

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 328, the DTV 
Delay Act.
  Since 1996, our nation's first-responders have been calling for more 
broadcast spectrum to be made available for better and more effective 
communication among emergency services. Tragically, the lack of such 
spectrum was cited by experts as partially leading to many unnecessary 
deaths among those responding to the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York 
City. In fact, completing the digital television transition so that 
this spectrum may be used by police, firefighters, and emergency 
personnel was the main communications-related recommendation of the 9/
11 Commission.
  In 2005, after years of delay, Congress finally established February 
17, 2009 as the date when the country will switch to all-digital 
broadcasting and eliminate the disruptions to public safety 
communications. Unfortunately, after more than a decade of preparing 
for the transition, the bill before us today would delay the digital 
transition for another three months.
  Like many Delawareans, I am concerned about the management of the 
digital transition process and the shortfall in the number of converter 
box coupons available. It is critical that we act quickly to provide 
additional resources to address these complications and ensure our 
constituents are prepared for the transition date. Still, public safety 
services and broadcasters have spent millions of dollars preparing for 
the February 17th transition date and postponing the deadline again 
will only create more confusion and delay the implementation of this 
vital 9/11 Commission recommendation.

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