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Summary:
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171), as amended by the DTV Delay Act, directs that on June 12, 2009, all over-the-air full-power television broadcastswhich are currently provided by television stations in both analog and digital formatswill become digital only. Digital television (DTV) technology allows a broadcaster to offer a single program stream of high definition television (HDTV), or alternatively, multiple video program streams (multicasts). Households with over-the-air analog-only televisions will no longer be able to receive full-power television service unless they either: (1) buy a digital-to-analog converter box to hook up to their analog television set; (2) acquire a digital television or an analog television equipped with a digital tuner; or (3) subscribe to cable, satellite, or telephone company television services, which will likely provide for the conversion of digital signals to their analog customers. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 established a digital-to-analog converter box programadministered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commercethat partially subsidizes consumer purchases of converter boxes. NTIA provides up to two forty-dollar coupons to requesting U.S. households. The coupons are being issued between January 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009, and must be used within 90 days after issuance towards the purchase of a stand-alone device used solely for digital-to-analog conversion. The DTV Delay Act allows expired coupons to be replaced. The preeminent goal for Congress is ensuring that American households are prepared for the DTV transition deadline, thereby minimizing a scenario where television sets across the nation go dark. At issue is whether the federal governments current programs and reliance on private sector stakeholders will lead to a successful digital transition with a minimum amount of disruption to American TV households. On January 8, 2009, then-President-elect Obamas transition team asked leaders of the House and Senate Commerce Committees to consider postponing the digital transition date, citing the current unavailability of converter box coupons and what they viewed as insufficient federal support and education efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are ready for the transition. Proposals for postponing the transition date were sparked by the announcement from NTIA on January 5, 2009, that the funding ceiling for converter box coupons had been reached, that all new requests would be put on a waiting list, and that growing numbers of households would not receive their coupons in time for the February 17 transition. Consequently, concerns arose in Congress that further legislation would be necessary to ensure, to the extent possible, a successful digital transition with a minimum amount of disruption to American TV households. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5), signed by the President on February 17, 2009, contains an appropriation of $650 million to NTIA for the DTV coupon program. Meanwhile, on February 11, 2009, the DTV Delay Act (P.L. 111-4), which changes the digital transition deadline from February 17 to June 12, 2009, was signed by the President. Despite the extended deadline, hundreds of full-power television broadcast stations, having notified the FCC, ceased their analog service on February 17.
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