WASHINGTON – Legislation headed to a House-Senate conference committee would pave the way for completing the digital television or DTV transition in 2008.

Benefits of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Digital Television Transition Act:

• Making communities safer. Some police, fire departments, and rescue squads already have radio equipment to communicate over the spectrum the broadcasters are supposed to return—they are just awaiting the turnover. Many more public safety officials cannot purchase equipment or begin planning without a date certain. Notably, last year the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (or 9/11 Commission) recommended the expedited return of this spectrum to improve homeland security.
• Bringing new services to consumers and lowering prices. The commercial uses for the spectrum are practically limitless, such as accelerated deployment of wireless broadband capabilities (especially to rural areas) and more competitive choices for high-speed voice, video and data applications.
• Reducing the federal deficit. This particular spectrum is highly valuable, called “beachfront property” by some, and its auction will bring billions of dollars in additional revenue to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the deficit. Several studies suggest that the auction could raise $20-30 billion, and garner hundreds of billions of dollars in additional benefits and savings to consumers and the U.S. economy.
• Growing the economy and creating new jobs. The development of products and services to utilize this spectrum will improve America’s global competitiveness and result in significant investment, boosting our economy and creating new jobs.

Specifically the legislation, authored by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would:

• Require all television broadcasters to transition from analog to digital television transmissions and return the 700 MHz band of spectrum, now used for analog broadcasts, by December 31, 2008.
• Create a $990 million digital-to-analog converter box program for over-the-air viewers. Spectrum auction proceeds will be used to assist consumers with the purchase of up to two converter boxes per household. The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will administer the Digital Television Conversion Fund.
  • From the date of enactment, NTIA will embark upon a major consumer education campaign to inform consumers about the transition and the converter box program.
  • Each household may obtain up to two coupons that can be applied towards the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box. Each coupon will have a value of $40.
  • Consumers will be required to affirmatively request coupons from NTIA. Consumers may obtain coupons from January 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009.
• Authorize the FCC to auction 60 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band that will be available after the transition. The FCC has already reserved 24 MHz in that band for public safety.
• Creates a $500 million program to fund new communications equipment for first responders that utilizes the public safety channels in the 700 MHz band.
• Obligate broadcasters, cable operators, retailers, and television manufacturers to engage in a consumer education campaign regarding the transition.
• Require cable systems with a capacity greater than 550 MHz to carry both a standard-definition digital signal along with an analog version of that signal until 2014. After 2014, cable systems are only required to carry a broadcaster’s digital signal.
• Mandates all new televisions of 13 inches or more must include a digital tuner by March 1, 2007. TV sets without digital tuners must be labeled to inform consumers that the set won’t receive a digital signal.