U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

For Immediate Release
July 10th, 2008

STEVENS BILL TO HELP EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON DTV TRANSITION AND CONVERTER BOX PROGRAM APPROVED BY CONGRESS
Measure Also Implements Program to Reimburse Low-Power Television Stations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States House of Representatives last night unanimously approved legislation, cosponsored by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), to assist education efforts surrounding the digital television transition (DTV) scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009. The DTV Transition Assistance Act (S. 2607) enables the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to spend previously allocated funds to educate residents of rural and remote areas, the elderly, and minority groups on the DTV transition and the analog-to-digital converter box program. The legislation was approved in the United States Senate on June 19, 2008 and now moves on to the President.

“Congress has taken an important step to educate residents of rural and remote areas and the elderly about the upcoming DTV transition and converter box program,” said Senator Stevens. “Many Alaskans depend on over-the-air broadcasts, as do many Americans, and we must ensure that they are prepared for this transition next year.”

The bill also implements a program to reimburse low-power television stations for equipment to upgrade from analog to digital signals. S. 2607 would assist low-power television stations in eligible rural communities make the necessary transition.

“In Alaska, there are hundreds of low-power television stations which are often a community’s only broadcasting source,” said Senator Stevens. “This legislation creates a reasonable time frame for these stations to receive the funding they need to make the switch to digital signals.”

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For Immediate Release July 10th, 2008

STEVENS BILL TO HELP EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON DTV TRANSITION AND CONVERTER BOX PROGRAM APPROVED BY CONGRESS Measure Also Implements Program to Reimburse Low-Power Television Stations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States House of Representatives last night unanimously approved legislation, cosponsored by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), to assist education efforts surrounding the digital television transition (DTV) scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009. The DTV Transition Assistance Act (S. 2607) enables the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to spend previously allocated funds to educate residents of rural and remote areas, the elderly, and minority groups on the DTV transition and the analog-to-digital converter box program. The legislation was approved in the United States Senate on June 19, 2008 and now moves on to the President. “Congress has taken an important step to educate residents of rural and remote areas and the elderly about the upcoming DTV transition and converter box program,” said Senator Stevens. “Many Alaskans depend on over-the-air broadcasts, as do many Americans, and we must ensure that they are prepared for this transition next year.” The bill also implements a program to reimburse low-power television stations for equipment to upgrade from analog to digital signals. S. 2607 would assist low-power television stations in eligible rural communities make the necessary transition. “In Alaska, there are hundreds of low-power television stations which are often a community’s only broadcasting source,” said Senator Stevens. “This legislation creates a reasonable time frame for these stations to receive the funding they need to make the switch to digital signals.” ###