New hard DTV transition date inserted by US House into Deficit Reduction Act

Iria · Dec 19, 2005, 11:08 PM

Washington (DC) - It has been characterized as a measure to fight terrorism, and to strengthen the communications abilities of first responders in the event of disaster. Now, the US House of Representatives is positioning the nation's transition from analog to digital television broadcasting as a critical step toward deficit reduction.

In a 212-206 floor vote this morning, the House adopted the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Title III, Subtitle D of which now includes the text of what had been known as the Digital Television Transition Act. In a late addition, and perhaps an olive branch to the Senate, the House language boosted the "hard date" from 1 January 2009 to 17 February 2009. The Senate's language currently calls for 7 April 2009, and had been boosted forward four months to enable broadcasters to show the NCAA Division I men's basketball championships in their entirety, before forfeiting the public spectrum back to the government for auction.

Calling the hard date "the renaissance of television in America," House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Joe Barton (R - Texas), in a statement this afternoon, said 17 February 2009 gives manufacturers and retailers "more than enough time...to move low-cost digital televisions and converter-boxes into the market, for the FCC to complete the channel allocation process, for broadcasters to finalize their digital facilities, and for government and industry to prepare consumers for the transition."
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Read More / Source: TG Daily

Dec 19, 2005, 11:08 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	New hard DTV transition date inserted by US House into Deficit Reduction Act Washington (DC) - It has been characterized as a measure to fight terrorism, and to strengthen the communications abilities of first responders in the event of disaster. Now, the US House of Representatives is positioning the nation's transition from analog to digital television broadcasting as a critical step toward deficit reduction. In a 212-206 floor vote this morning, the House adopted the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Title III, Subtitle D of which now includes the text of what had been known as the Digital Television Transition Act. In a late addition, and perhaps an olive branch to the Senate, the House language boosted the "hard date" from 1 January 2009 to 17 February 2009. The Senate's language currently calls for 7 April 2009, and had been boosted forward four months to enable broadcasters to show the NCAA Division I men's basketball championships in their entirety, before forfeiting the public spectrum back to the government for auction. Calling the hard date "the renaissance of television in America," House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Joe Barton (R - Texas), in a statement this afternoon, said 17 February 2009 gives manufacturers and retailers "more than enough time...to move low-cost digital televisions and converter-boxes into the market, for the FCC to complete the channel allocation process, for broadcasters to finalize their digital facilities, and for government and industry to prepare consumers for the transition." ____________ Read More / Source: TG Daily