DORGAN PUSHES BILL TO EASE DIGITAL TV TRANSITION
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- Because of concerns over how the Digital TV transition is being implemented, U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) joined Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) in introducing legislation to ensure that North Dakotans with analog televisions will still receive emergency public safety information, as well as information about the Digital TV transition, for 30 days after the transition.
Under an initiative coordinated and administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), all television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital on February 17, 2009. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality. Consumers who rely on antennas (including outside antennas and "rabbit ears") to receive broadcast signals on TV sets having only analog tuners will need to obtain separate digital-to-analog set-top converter boxes to watch broadcast TV.
Dorgan is concerned that the FCC and NTIA are only just discovering and alerting consumers that they may also have problems with antennae and other signal issues that could result in some areas in that currently receive broadcast signals experiencing blackouts with their reception. The FCC has recently found this to be a likely problem and still has yet to determine exactly where these blackouts will take place.
“I am concerned that some people will wake up on February 17, turn on their TVs, see a blank screen and not know what to do,” said Dorgan. “The FCC and the NTIA have not done a sufficient job in preparing the nation for this transition, and this bill will allow broadcasters to air information about the digital transition and emergency alerts for an additional 30 days. It will provide consumers with instructions about how to make the transition if they haven’t already, as well as give us all the peace of mind that public safety information will still be broadcast.”
The bill, called the Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act, requires the FCC to develop a program to encourage and permit analog broadcasting of this information in areas where it is technologically feasible.
In preparation for the Digital TV transition, Dorgan also urged North Dakotans to check now to see if they will be affected.
“I urge everyone in North Dakota to check their TVs now to find out if you need a converter box, and if so, buy one and test it before February,” said Dorgan. “However, for those who are in the dark about the transition, this bill will provide a cushion to make sure that everyone is informed on how to get a converter box and access broadcast television.”
Through March 31, 2009, each household will be able to request up to two $40 coupons to be used for the purchase of converter boxes. More information on the coupons can be found at www.dtv2009.com.
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