[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E223-E224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             DTV DELAY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2009

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 352, the DTV Delay 
Act, which passed the Senate last week by unanimous consent. This 
legislation extends the digital television transition date and makes 
improvements to the converter box coupon program.
  In 2005, Congress mandated that as of February 17, 2009, all 
television stations shut off their analog broadcasts and transmit in 
digital only. The transition from analog to digital will offer better 
pictures and sound, more programming choices, and interactive 
capabilities. It will also serve an important public safety purpose by 
freeing up spectrum for first responders for nationwide interoperable 
communications. Finally, it will provide consumers with new and 
innovative commercial wireless services.
  Unfortunately, we are not prepared for this transition. The prior 
administration assured the Committee on Energy and Commerce repeatedly 
that the transition effort was on track. But on December 24, 2008, the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 
notified Congress that the converter box coupon program would run out 
of funding the first week of January and that it would need an 
additional $250 million to $350 million to meet projected demand.
  The DTV converter box coupon program is supposed to ease the 
financial burden of the transition. But it has ground to a halt. There 
are currently over 2 million households on the waiting list. In 
addition, the FCC has not adequately planned for call centers and other 
assistance for consumers who will face technical problems after the 
transition has occurred.
  The President's transition team asked Congress to extend the deadline 
for a brief period. This is not a step that anyone wants to take. But 
we have no good alternative. Without a short, one-time extension, 
millions of households will lose all television reception.
  The measure before us extends the date of the transition to June 12 
and extends the coupon program date until July 31, 2009. It will also 
allow those who hold expired coupons--or never received their coupons 
because of problems with third-class mail--to reapply.
  Moreover, the economic recovery package that the House passed last 
week includes $650 million to fix the coupon program and intensify 
consumer education and support.
  S. 352 also takes steps to lessen the impact on other affected 
parties, including public safety, broadcasters, and wireless licensees.
  I am pleased that this bill has broad support in the public safety 
community, including the Association of Public-Safety Communications 
Officials-International (APCO), the International Association of Chiefs 
of Police (IACP), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), 
and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). It has the 
support of the two biggest winners of spectrum that will be vacated as 
a result of the DTV transition--AT&T and Verizon. It has the support of 
the National Association of Broadcasters, the major networks, and 
Univision. And, it has the support of a number of public

[[Page E224]]

interest groups, including AARP, Consumer's Union and the Leadership 
Conference on Civil Rights to name a few.
  S. 352 gives the Obama administration the resources it has told us it 
needs to fix the coupon program and better prepare consumers for the 
transition.
  Unfortunately, our time to act on the legislation is short. If we do 
not pass this measure it is likely that there will be no transition 
extension. We are less than 2 weeks away from the transition date. This 
bill must reach the President's desk immediately or time will have run 
out for the administration to implement the changes necessary to fix 
the problems with the transition.
  I urge Members to support this bill.

                          ____________________