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Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce

 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND THE INTERNET HEARING ON “STATUS OF THE DTV TRANSITION – PART 2”

October 17, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following statement this morning at a hearing on the status of the digital television transition, which is scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009. On that day, analog televisions not connected to a converter box, cable or satellite will go dark because they will be unable to receive digital signals. For more information, please visit the Committee website at http://energycommerce.house.gov.

I thank Chairman Markey for holding this hearing. The digital television transition might well be the most important telecommunications issue before this Committee.

This oversight hearing is the second in a series regarding the DTV transition. The transition promises great benefits to consumers, including more and higher quality over-the-air programming, new advanced wireless services, and use of analog spectrum currently reserved for broadcast television by first responders and other public safety communications.

We must, however, make sure that Government and industry have done all they can to ensure that no consumer wakes up on February 18, 2009, to find their television screen has gone dark.

Much work still remains for a successful transition. First and foremost, there must be Government leadership. As our GAO witness will testify, there is currently no clear leader of the transition. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should be the agency spearheading this transition. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has a distinct, statutorily-defined role in administering the converter box coupon program. But appropriately, the FCC should be leading the transition and working with NTIA and others to coordinate these many efforts.

I urge the FCC to consider an interagency task force to facilitate a smooth transition, similar to the one established to address Y2K. That interagency task force spent nearly two years on its mission, with a clear priority and a sense of urgency to prepare our Nation for any effects brought about by the arrival of the year 2000.

We face a shorter timetable for the DTV transition, and I believe the Administration should approach the DTV transition with the same diligence as the previous Administration employed for Y2K.

The converter box coupon program is a critical element. Each and every consumer who will need a converter box to view over-the-air programming must have one. Coordinating the logistics of this program and the distribution of converter boxes presents a tremendous challenge. I look forward to the testimony of IBM, the vendor selected by NTIA to implement this enormous undertaking, about its plans to carry out this important job.

We will also receive testimony from consumer groups about the various constituencies that should be informed and educated about the transition. Many at-risk populations, such as the elderly, the economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, and those who live in rural and other underserved communities, will need particular attention.

As I noted before, digital television holds great promise for this country, and we all look forward to its potential being realized. We must ensure that all Americans will enjoy its many benefits and are prepared for the end of analog TV on February 17, 2009.

I thank the witnesses, each of whom has an important role. We are here to help you facilitate a successful transition, and I look forward to working with you over the next 16 months.

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Prepared by the Committee on Energy and Commerce
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