[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H606-H607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             DTV TRANSITION

  (Mr. RADANOVICH asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the 
digital television delay bill that the House will be voting on under 
suspension today.
  The bill needlessly delays the DTV transition date of February 17 and 
undermines the government's credibility with consumers and broadcasters 
who have prepared for the transition, as well as the private industry 
that is relying on the spectrum that they purchased to be available.
  The bill also facilitates the need for $650 million in the stimulus 
to be spent on the converter box coupon program but ironically does not 
get a single person off the coupon waiting list.
  Finally, the bill prevents spectrum from being cleared for first 
responders and emergency communications.

[[Page H607]]

  Delaying the transition is confusing to our consumers, expensive for 
our broadcasters, will slow down deployment of broadband services, and 
has potentially dangerous implications for public safety. Therefore, I 
urge my colleagues to keep the digital transition on the right path and 
oppose Senate bill 238.

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