Compromise on DTV Delay Bill in Senate

On Friday evening, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) announced a bipartisan compromise to the DTV Delay Act introduced last week. The amended DTV Delay Act will retain the extension of the digital transition date to June 12, 2009. Additionally, the agreement extends the Federal Communication Commission's auction authority to pay for the costs of the delay, reaffirms a broadcasters' right to make the transition before June 12, permits the FCC to award vacant spectrum space to public safety officials, and fixes the converter box coupon program. Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the Commerce Committee, identified four key provisions of the bill: 1) In order to better educate consumers about the transition, and to provide consumers with ample opportunity to utilize the converter-box coupon program, the digital transition will shift from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. 2) Over-the-air broadcast television stations may voluntarily switch from analog to digital service before June 12, 2009. Stations that are fully prepared for the switch can make the transition early through a FCC process. In addition to the several markets that already have made the transition, many additional markets are expected to be prepared to make the transition prior to June 12, 2009 - this bill will permit these stations to transition early and bring consumers the advantages of digital service as quickly as possible. 3) In the event a broadcast station switches early to digital service, public safety services may start using the vacated spectrum. 4) Consumers with expired coupons may apply for new replacement coupons. This provides relief to consumers who, because of natural disasters, retail or mail issues, were unable to redeem their coupons.