NTIA has played an active role in the development of digital television and public policy. The agency, for example, will help consumers make an affordable digital transition by providing coupons to households to defray the cost of DTV converter boxes. As the nation transitions from analog to digital, NTIA will also help enable first responders -- our firefighters and police officers -- to employ designated frequencies to improve their communications, thereby better protecting communities when emergencies arise. The Administration will continue to monitor developments and encourage its successful deployment, which will result in reclaimed radio spectrum for other important services, including public safety.

The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (see Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171) authorizes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer several programs in Fiscal Year 2007, including:

• TV Converter Box Coupon Program,
• Public Safety Interoperable Communications Program,
• NYC 9/11 Digital Transition, and
• Low Power Television and Translator Digital-to-Analog Conversion.

Programs authorized to begin after auction proceeds are available after June 30, 2008, include:

• Low Power Television and Translator Upgrade,
• National Alert and Tsunami Warning Program, and
• ENHANCE 911.

See the individual programs for more information.

Press and media releases and advisories are available at NTIA Press Releases.

Background Information:

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S. 1932), with Title III. Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (188 pages, Acrobat PDF 516Kb)
Posted 02-08-2006

Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate (Acrobat PDF 26Kb)