DTV Coupon Funds Running Out; Congress Wants to Know Why

Members of Congress are questioning how the Bush administration suddenly realized it is not going to have enough money to pay for administering the coupon program for the digital TV transition. In a letter to Meredith Baker, acting assistant secretary of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, House Commerce Committee Chairman Dingell and Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey questioned how NTIA could not have known in advance it was short of funds and demanded to know how much additional money will be needed to complete the transition. "Absent congressional action, on what approximate date does NTIA anticipate it will run out of administrative funds for the program?" said the letter. Both congressmen have argued that not enough money was set aside to help consumers with the transition.