House Passes DTV Transition Bill

On Wednesday the US House of representatives approved -- by unanimous consent -- the Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act, a bill sponsored by Rep Louis Capps in the House and Sen Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) in the Senate. The legislation allows for the short-term continued analog broadcast of essential information after the February 18, 2009 nationwide transition to digital television (DTV), including broadcasts of emergency information. The legislation now goes to the President who is expected to sign the bill. Under the SAFER Act, after February 18th households that may not have prepared their televisions to receive digital signals will see a "slide" on their screen—in both English and Spanish— informing them that the transition to digital has taken place, and providing a phone number for further information on how to arrange for their televisions to receive digital signals. More importantly, they will also receive emergency weather and public safety information that is broadcast over digital airwaves. The SAFER Act would ensure that this information was available for 30 days following the transition to all-digital broadcasting.

Update: National Association of Broadcasters President David Rehr Thursday urged President Bush to sign the legislation.