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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2008
CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison’s DTV Border Bill Unanimously Passes Senate
Creates FCC Process to Continue Public Safety Messages for Texans within 50 Miles of the Border
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), today announced that legislation she introduced to address the unique concerns of South Texas and other border residents concerning the digital television (DTV) transition has passed in the Senate by unanimous consent. The Digital Television Border Fix Act of 2007, S. 2507, establishes a process for broadcasters along the border to apply for FCC permission to continue both analog and digital broadcasting for a short time after the transition, which will take place at midnight on February 17, 2009.
“Many Texas residents are unprepared for the fast-approaching DTV transition, especially those who live along the border. Households that continue watching stations from Mexico, rather than taking steps to prepare for the transition, may not receive AMBER Alert and Emergency Alert System messages,” said Sen. Hutchison. “The Senate-passed bill will give border broadcasters flexibility to broadcast in both analog and digital formats beyond the transition date so border residents’ access to important public safety information is not threatened.”
At midnight on February 17, 2009, federal law requires full-power broadcasters in the United States to cease analog broadcasting and to broadcast in digital format exclusively. The lack of analog broadcasting after this date poses special challenges for border communities. Sen. Hutchison’s legislation allows broadcasters along the border to continue analog broadcasts for four years, but maintains Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to deny stations in the affected area the ability to simulcast in both analog and digital if it does not serve the public interest or causes interference with DTV stations or public safety. The legislation applies only to stations within 50 miles of the common border with Mexico.
When the DTV transition occurs, customers who rely on rooftop antennas or “rabbit ears” to receive television broadcasts will have to subscribe to a “pay” television service, purchase a television with a digital tuner, or acquire a converter box for each analog television in their home to continue receiving American television. At the same time, “free” analog television signals originating in Mexico will remain available to border residents.
The best efforts of industry, advocacy groups, and state and federal governments have failed to encourage many residents to make necessary preparations. This is due to the expense of these preparations and the continued availability of analog programming from Mexico, both of which may discourage households from participating in the transition. The data on the number of coupons available from the federal government to help with the costs that have been requested, and redeemed, is extremely low along the border. This is a strong indication of how many residents are not properly prepared. Without this important legislation, the lack of preparation could pose an unnecessary and avoidable public safety risk. Even with Senate passage, it is critical the residents continue their preparations for the transition. There are many benefits to digital broadcasting and residents that can make preparations are encouraged to do so. The legislation must still pass the House and then the FCC must review applicatioons for continued analog broadcasting authority.
This legislation was introduced on Dec. 18, 2007 and reported out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on April 24, 2008.
With Senate passage, the DTV Border Bill will require passage by the House. Companion legislation, H.R. 5435, has been introduced by Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA). Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is the chief co-sponsor of the Senate-passed legislation.
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