Barton Introduces Bill To Unclog Coupons

Senate compromise or no, Rep Joe Barton (R-TX) is rallying House Commerce Committee Republicans to offer their own solutions for the digital television transition. He introduced a bill (HR 661) that would unclog the processing and delivery of DTV-to-analog converter box coupons without changing the DTV date. The bill would provide $250 million more for the converter box program, which is what the National Telecommunications & Information Administration has said it would need to immediately resume sending the coupons. The Republican Reps think the DTV transition date should not move, saying it would be confusing, continue to tie up first responder spectrum, and "not move a single consumer off of the waiting list for analog-to digital converter box coupons." Rep Barton says that only 200,000 households will lose all TV service if the transition is not delayed, "such a small number of households with the potential to lose service is not reason enough to delay the transition," the bill asserts.