WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement today as part of a Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Status of the Digital Television Transition”:
“I want to thank you for your continuing interest in the digital television transition.
“This is the second hearing in as many weeks that has been called to take a second look at the legislation that we passed several years ago. The bill that we did pass was such a good compromise that it passed this particular committee 33 to 17. It also passed the House and also passed the Senate. We understand that there are some concerns about the converter-box program that’s in the law as it current is. We understand that there is some consumer education differently. Having said that, just because there’s some lingering concerns about the bill doesn’t mean that it’s time to go back and redo it all over again.
“I personally believe that we got the balance right when we did it, and I hope we will stick with it. Stakeholders will benefit by sticking with what we already have. Broadcasters are going to return 24 MHz of spectrum for use by first responders, implementing one of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. The FCC is going to auction 60 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband. One billion dollars – one billion dollars – of the proceeds are going to be used for grant programs to help give police, firefighters and paramedics the equipment that they need to better communicate with each other—and with us—when we need them most.
“Another $1.5 billion is going to be available for consumers who may still wish to use analog televisions with rabbit ears after Feb. 17, 2009. Under the rules that have been promulgated, all households may request free-of-charge, one or even two converter boxes, and the cost will be subsidized from the first $990 million allocated to the program. If NTIA needs the remaining $510 million, those homes that have no cable or satellite service will be eligible for this second round of funding. That’s to ensure that the subsidized converter boxes go to those who really need them the most.
“I hope that the added money likely won’t be necessary. It’s just a dwindling minority of Americans use analog television sets with over-the-air antennas. Fewer still will want taxpayers to give them a subsidy. After all, they are taxpayers, too. Using broadcaster demand projections and FCC estimates of the number of over-the-air, cable and satellite homes, it appears that we’re going to need approximately 21.8 million subsidized boxes. The consumer electronics industry—the ones who are actually building and selling the boxes—thinks the demand will be considerably less.
“Regardless, the $990 million, by itself, can fund 22.25 million converters, which is a number larger than 21.8 million. Keep in mind, anyone can accumulate the requisite wealth to buy a $60 converter box, if they wish, to just by putting their pennies and dimes into their piggy banks.
“Yes, the Senate’s Byrd rule stripped the consumer education requirements other than the $5 million for the NTIA. But these are the broadcasters’ consumers. And those of the cable, satellite, retail and consumer electronics industries. They’re going to have every incentive to inform the American public how to manage the transition. And they are in a far better position than we to do so, with almost two years still to go, I might add.
“I continue to think the bill as it is is right, but I’m not in the majority now. You can allocate more money for converter boxes if you think it’s necessary. If you don’t think industry will do enough to educate their own consumers, you can move H.R. 608, the bill that I’ve introduced with Mr. Upton and Mr. Hastert to replace the consumer education requirements that were stripped out in the Senate by the Byrd rule. Or you can introduce your own consumer education bill. We shouldn’t squabble over coupons; the public safety and other benefits of this legislation are too important.
“I would also like to welcome Mary Fetchet from Voices of September 11th for testifying. I hope that her presence will help us keep the proper context as we look at this issue.”
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