NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Dingell Responds to Telecommunications Elements of Bush Budget

Washington, DC – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement regarding aspects of President Bush’s Fiscal Year 09 (FY09) Budget affecting the telecommunications sector:

“The President’s budget proposal regarding the communications sector offers much of what we have seen in prior years, such as the ill-advised attack on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the proposed termination of the Telecommunications Development Fund. In the past, Congress has wisely blocked these attempts, and I suspect Congress will do so again.

“While the President’s proposed budget would increase the Federal Communications Commission’s budget for consumer outreach about the digital television transition, I am concerned about the size of the increase.

“The President has proposed an additional $20 million dollars for educating consumers about digital television. When added to the original $5 million that was allotted by the Republican Congress that enacted this program, this is far too little to educate a nation of 300 million people.

“Television is the primary means by which the public receives news concerning public safety and national security, so public awareness of the digital television transition is critical. If we are truly concerned about the safety and security of our Nation, we should not be attempting this transition on the cheap.”

President Bush’s FY09 Budget proposes:

• Eliminating the Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning and Construction grants in 2009 and
• Eliminating the Anti-Deficiency Act exemption for certain universal service programs.

For the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the budget proposes:

• $200 million rescission from the $400 million core appropriation already provided by Congress for FY 2009;
• $220 million rescission from the $420 million core appropriation already provided by Congress for FY 2010; and
• Eliminating Congress’ advance appropriation for FY 2011.

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