United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2005-05-26 monographic deposited born digital 32 p. GA 1.13:GAO-05-623T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T P0b002ee1803985fa f:d05623t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T GAO-05-623T Consumer education Eligibility determinations Government information dissemination Subsidies Television and television stations Television broadcasting Digital broadcasting Rebates Vouchers Testimony A25324 The digital television (DTV) transition offers the promise of enhanced television. At the end of the transition, radiofrequency spectrum currently used for analog broadcast television will be used for other wireless services and for critical public safety services. To spur the digital transition while preventing any loss of television service to households, some industry participants and experts have suggested that the government subsidize DTV equipment to enable households to view digital broadcast signals. This testimony provides information on (1) some challenges to administering a subsidy program for DTV equipment, (2) some administrative options for implementing a DTV subsidy, (3) examples of government programs that make use of rebates or vouchers to provide subsidies, and (4) other efforts necessary for the completion of the DTV transition. We discussed administrative challenges to and options for a DTV subsidy with federal and state government officials, electronics manufacturers and retailers, and experts in product promotion. As in our previous work, we take no position on whether a subsidy should be implemented or not, or whether, if a subsidy program is established, it should be implemented in any particular way. While policies other than a subsidy might help promote the DTV transition, any other such approaches were not part of this investigation. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T.pdf GAO-05-623T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-623T Testimony GAO-05-623T; Digital Broadcast Television Transition: Several Challenges Could Arise in Administering a Subsidy Program for DTV Equipment; Consumer education Eligibility determinations Government information dissemination Subsidies Television and television stations Television broadcasting Digital broadcasting Rebates Vouchers