Download Locations

• Open CRS (User submitted)
• WikiLeaks

Summary

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171) directs that on February 17, 2009, over-the-air full-power television broadcasts?which are currently provided by television stations in both analog and digital formats?will 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 analogonly 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 program? administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce?that will partially subsidize 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 March 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 preeminent goal for Congress is ensuring that American households are prepared for the February 17, 2009 DTV transition deadline, thereby minimizing a scenario where television sets across the nation ?go dark.? At issue is whether the federal government?s 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 or, alternatively, whether additional legislative measures are warranted. On January 8, 2009, President-elect Obama?s 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 view 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, possibly by several months, have been 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 will likely not receive their coupons in time for the February 17 transition. Consequently, there are concerns in Congress that further legislation may be necessary to ensure, to the extent possible, a successful digital transition with a minimum amount of disruption to American TV households. Such legislation could include postponing the digital transition date, addressing the statutory cap on the converter box coupon program (by raising the cap or appropriating money to the program), and/or directing additional federal resources towards preparing American households for the digital television transition. This report will be updated as events warrant.

XML