WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, today made the following statement regarding introduction of the Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2007.

"Today, Mr. Upton. Mr. Hastert and I introduced the Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2007. Last Congress, we passed legislation to bring the benefits of digital television to millions of Americans more quickly. The bill also turned over a broad swath of analog broadcast spectrum for the critical public safety uses recommended by the 9/11 Commission. Firefighters and police officers need to be able to talk to one another when emergencies like 9/11 happen, and we have made that possible.

"For people who get their TV programs over the air instead of by cable or satellite, the legislation created a converter-box program that can help transform the new digital signals to the analog ones that older television sets recognize.

"Some provisions in that good bill were designed to educate consumers about the DTV transition and the converter-box program. Regrettably, those provisions were stripped out and left behind because of Senate procedural rules. Senate rules are fine things, but they're not likely to be standing around, explaining how digital television works. So the bill we introduce today reasserts the necessary public education provisions that were left out last year.

"Digital televisions are selling like umbrellas in a thunderstorm, outpacing all expectations, and the Feb. 17, 2009, transition date is still two years away. But we should use our transition time wisely. This legislation that Mr. Upton, Mr. Hastert and I have introduced will ensure that the relatively small number of consumers who are still using those analog televisions with over-the-air antennas in two years understand what they need to do.

"The number of consumers who will need converter boxes by then should be relatively small. According to the FCC, only 14 percent of television households relied exclusively on over-the-air antennas as of June 2005. That number is likely to dwindle even further as more consumers subscribe to satellite and cable service, including from new entrants such as the phone companies. And under "FCC rules, all analog television receivers manufactured after March 1, 2007, must also be able to receive digital signals over the air, so people with new televisions will not need converter boxes."

The bill would:

• Require signs. Retailers would be required to display informational signs near any old, analog-only televisions that remain on the shelves. This will help ensure that consumers who are thinking of buying an analog-only television understand that after Feb. 17, 2009, they will need to connect the television to a converter-box, or to cable or satellite service, to receive broadcast television signals.

• Require billing notices. Cable and satellite operators would be required to include information in their bills about the DTV transition. Cable and satellite subscribers will be largely unaffected by the transition, but this will help ensure they understand what is happening.

• Require broadcaster reporting. Broadcasters would be required to file regular reports with the Federal Communications Commission detailing what consumer education efforts they are undertaking, such as the airing of public service announcements.

• Require FCC outreach. The FCC would be required to create a public outreach program. The FCC would also be required to create a DTV consumer education working group that includes representatives from the FCC, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, broadcasters, cable and satellite operators, consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers, and consumer groups. The working group would be charged with helping to advise the FCC on consumer outreach.

•  Require energy standards. The NTIA would be required to establish energy standards for digital-to-analog converter boxes. National standards will help ensure that manufacturers can produce and distribute efficient, low-cost converter boxes for consumers nationwide.

• Require progress reports. The FCC would be required to submit progress reports to Congress on the consumer education efforts of the FCC and the private sector. The NTIA would be required to submit progress reports to Congress on the distribution and redemption of converter-box coupons.

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