|
|
|
|
|
  |
For Immediate Release
11/03/05
|
|
|
 |
|
Senate Approves Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005
|
| |
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Senate today passed the Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 as part of the Budget Reconciliation Bill by a vote of 52-47.
The legislation, offered by U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), establishes two specific dates that will advance the transition to a digital television (DTV) broadcast signal and improve public safety communications.
First, the Act requires broadcasters to vacate the analog portion of the public spectrum by April 7, 2009. From that date forward, public safety personnel will have access to the 24 MHz of spectrum recovered in the transition.
Second, the legislation begins the auction of recovered spectrum on January 28, 2008. Under its budget reconciliation instruction, the Commerce Committee is required to raise $4.8 billion in revenue in the next five years, and the spectrum auctions are considered to be the most viable method within the Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction to recover this revenue. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that auctions will raise a total of $10 billion.
After $5 billion of revenue is transferred to the U.S. Treasury, the remaining funds raised from spectrum auctions will be allocated as follows:
1) $3 billion for a converter box subsidy program
2) $200 million for a program to transition Low Power TV stations and TV translators to digital
3) $1 billion for state and local interoperability grants
4) $250 million to fund programs in the WARN Act, which establishes national alert and tsunami warning systems
5) $250 million in funding to improve E-911 communications under the Enhance 911 legislation sponsored by Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) passed last year
6) $200 million for assistance to coastal States affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters
7) $75 million available over a five-year period for the Essential Air Service program
An amendment to the reconciliation bill offered by Senators David Vitter (R-La.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and co-sponsored by Chairman Stevens, Co-Chairman Inouye, and Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), would earmark spectrum auction revenues that exceed the CBO’s $10 billion projection. In the event that the revenue surpasses $10 billion, the first $1 billion would go toward deficit reduction, the next $500 million would go to the interoperability funding for first responders, and the next $1.2 billion would go to coastal restoration for states affected by hurricanes. Finally, any additional revenue beyond that would also be targeted to deficit reduction. The amendment passed the Senate by voice vote.
The Commerce Committee, which authored the DTV section, originally approved the bill by a vote of 19-3 on October 20, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| 17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Implement the U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Treaty
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously approved S. 2013, the United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Implementation Act.
This bill, which implements the provisions of the Polar Bear Treaty signed by the United States and the Russian Federation, was introduced by Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and is...
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Federal Trade Commission Nominations
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today approved the following nominations by unanimous consent:
William Kovacic to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
Thomas Rosch to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
PN842 - Coast Guard Admirals
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves SPY BLOCK Act
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported S. 687, the Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge Act or the “SPY BLOCK Act,” by unanimous consent. The bill would outlaw a number of activities that are associated with spyware and strengthen the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s enforcement author...
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Advance Transportation Security
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously approved today the “Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2005,” S. 1052, introduced by Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.)
The comprehensive legislation reasserts th...
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Amend the Age Restriction for Pilots
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved a substitute amendment offered by Senator Burns to S. 65, a bill to amend age restrictions for pilots, by voice vote. The bill was introduced by Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.).
Since 1960, federal regulations have specified that individuals age 60 and older may not serve as airline pilots on an...
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Act of 2005
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved S. 517, the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Act of 2005 by voice vote. The bill is sponsored by Committee Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas)
S. 517 establishes within the Department of Commerce the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board (WMARB) to promote the ...
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Extension of Aviation War Risk Insurance
-
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously approved today the “War Risk Extension Act of 2005,” S. 1102, introduced by Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and co-sponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns (R-Mont.).
S. 1102 extends the Federal Government’s existing war risk insurance co...
|
|
|
| 17th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves the Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today reported S. 1110, the Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005, by voice vote. Consumer Affairs Subcommittee Chairman George Allen (R-Va.) originally introduced the bill, which was co-sponsored by Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) Consumer ...
|
|
|
| 15th - |
Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens Addresses U.S. Climate Change Science Program Workshop
-
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today addressed the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Workshop. Chairman Stevens’ remarks focused on the need to rely on sound science when making policy decisions.
The Climate Change Science Program Workshop is being held over three days and is sponsored by 13 government agencies. More information about the c...
|
|
|
|
|
| 15th - |
Chairman Stevens Introduces Legislation to Implement the U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Treaty
- Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has introduced the United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Implementation Act to execute the provisions of the Polar Bear Treaty signed by the United States and the Russian Federation. Committee Co-Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) is a cosponsor of the bill.
...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9th - |
Chairman Stevens Introduces Legislation to Repeal Section 5 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
- Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has introduced legislation, S. 1977, a bill to repeal Section 5 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which has precluded upgrades to the Cherry Point refinery in Washington State.
S. 1977 removes the prohibition on federal agencies from issuing a permit for a marine terminal or dock i...
|
|
|
|
|
| 8th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Open Forum on Decency
-
Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today announced that the Full Committee is planning to hold an "Open Forum on Decency" on November 29, 2005. A specific time and location will be announced at a later time.
Representatives from wide variety of groups, including cable, broadcasting, and other content industries, are expected to attend ...
|
|
|
| 4th - |
Senate Confirms
Shana Dale to be Deputy Administrator of NASA
- The U.S. Senate this afternoon confirmed Shana Dale to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by Unanimous Consent. Ms. Dale received the unanimous support of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee when her nomination was reported out of the Committee on Wednesday, November 2, 2005. ###
|
|
|
| 3rd - |
Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act Added to Budget Reconciliation Bill in Senate
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling it one last chance for the Senate to be heard on whether it wants a national passenger rail system, Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi today asked the Senate to adopt as an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill, the Amtrak reform bill he introduced in July. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 93-6.
“I know it is highly unusual to add an authorizati...
|
|
 |
| 3rd - |
current Press Release |
|
|
| 2nd - |
Commerce Committee Approves Nominations
- WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today approved the following nominations by unanimous consent:
Shana Dale to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mark Rosenker to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board
Kathryn Higgins to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board
...
|
|
|
| 2nd - |
Chairman Stevens Argues Against
the Ensign Amendment
to Reduce Converter Box Program Funds
- Washington, D.C. – During debate today on the Senate’s Budget Reconciliation Act, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) opposed an amendment offered by Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) which would divert $2 billion from a converter box subsidy program contained in the Commerce Committee-approved Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 20...
|
|
|
| 2nd - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves
the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005
- Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today reported S. 1063, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005, by unanimous consent. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) originally introduced the bill, which was co-sponsored by Committee Members Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and John Kerry (D-Mass.).
During the mark-up...
|
|
|
|
|
| 2nd - |
Opening Statement of Senator Ted Stevens
at Committee Mark-up of S.1063 and Nominees
- We are here today to consider S. 1063, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005. Public safety has been a focus of the Committee and has been deliberately woven into the Commerce Committee’s agenda this year, especially in the context of communications. The Committee’s agenda has included numerous public safety-related hearings and critical pieces of legislatio...
|
|
 Audio Clip |  Video Clip
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
