[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 62 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4756-S4757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Ms. Collins):
  S. 899. A bill to establish an assistance program for the 
construction of digital TV translators to fill coverage gaps that are 
created from the transition from analog to digital signals; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, on June 12, television broadcasters will 
finally transition from analog TV signals to an all-digital system and 
in doing so begin a new chapter of innovation. In addition to providing 
higher quality video and sound, the DTV Transition will allow 
broadcasters to offer new services such as interactive TV and content 
multicasting.
  The benefits consumers will reap will be significant so we must make 
sure that they are clearly aware of this transition and the steps 
necessary to be prepared. Delaying the switchover till June has 
afforded us the opportunity to improve these efforts. However, there 
are several geographic areas across this nation that will be plagued by 
a particular problem that isn't a result of lack of consumer awareness 
or availability of converter boxes but because they will receive a weak 
digital signal or no signal at all.
  The DTV ``cliff effect'' occurs when the broadcast signal is so weak 
that all that appears on a viewer's TV is a blank screen. Unlike an 
analog broadcast, where a weak signal means a viewer would receive a 
grainy or snowy picture, a weak digital broadcast would mean no picture 
at all--you either get it or you don't.
  The DTV cliff effect occurs because of the different propagation 
characteristics that the new digital broadcast signals have compared to 
traditional analog signals. The terrain, distance from the broadcast 
tower, and the sensitivity of existing antennas, and even the weather 
all play a part in the strength of a broadcast signal and contribute to 
the cliff effect.
  Recently, a market-research firm estimated that more than 9 million 
households could experience some digital TV reception problems. In 
addition, many households in Wilmington, North Carolina, which 
participated in a DTV Transition trial run last fall, and about a 
thousand homes in Hawaii, which transitioned early, experienced 
reception and cliff effect problems, so this is a very real threat that 
will disrupt a significant number of households.

[[Page S4757]]

  That is why I rise today with my colleague Senator Collins to 
introduce legislation to directly address this problem by creating an 
assistance program for the construction of new digital translators to 
fill the gaps in the digital coverage of full-power stations. 
Specifically, the bill would provide $125 million in reimbursements for 
the construction of digital repeater or translator towers, which run 
approximately $80,000 to $100,000 each to build. These repeaters are 
essential in filling the dead zones that will result from the 
switchover.
  The FCC recently released a report estimating that ``approximately 18 
percent of stations--319--are predicted to lose coverage of 2 percent 
or more of the existing population they reached with their analog 
signals.'' One of the recommendations the Commission suggested to 
alleviate this problem was for affected stations to build translators. 
The FCC also provided a partial remedy in releasing a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking that would allow stations to install digital 
translators immediately under Special Temporary Authority. However, in 
this poor economic climate many broadcasters do not have the resources 
to construct these expensive towers.
  This legislation supplies some of the funding necessary to meet the 
challenges posed by this significant problem. It also should be noted 
that these towers can be used to co-locate wireless broadband 
facilities or other advanced communications services, which means an 
easier expansion of broadband in many areas that currently are without.
  Fully addressing the DTV cliff effect problem will ensure the 
transition in June is as seamless and undisruptive as possible for all 
Americans. That is why I hope my colleagues will join Senator Collins 
and me in supporting this legislation.
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