We anticipate that Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) will offer one or two amendments to the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill on the floor today to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using funds to issue licenses for Advanced Television (ATV). As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee, we wanted to explain why we strongly oppose the Frank amendment.

The House Commerce Committee has held years of hearings on spectrum management and the transition to digital television, including the FCC's current plan to award ATV licenses. In fact, Mr. Frank testified at the Committee's most recent hearing on the issue. The abundance of evidence supports the FCC's current transition plan. Thus, the consensus view of the Commerce Committee leadership is that the Commission should move forward on its current plan in order to bring digital television to the American people as soon as possible.

The Telecommunications legislation enacted this year calls for television broadcasters to swap their current license to broadcast analog television for a new license to broadcast digital television. Prior to the exchange of licenses, there is a transition period, during which they will hold two licenses, so that our constituents' television sets aren't obsolete immediately. But at the end of the transition, one of the two licenses reverts to the government for subsequent auction. The television broadcasters are no better off -- they merely will have received one license in exchange for the old license.

The Commerce Committee has worked in a bipartisan fashion in overseeing what we believe is an effective plan to convert to digital television with the least disruption to the American viewing public.

We urge all Members to Oppose the Frank amendment on ATV.

Sincerely,

Tom Bliley
Chairman, Committee on Commerce

John Dingell
Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce

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