Digital TV Delay Act



Summary
With the end date for analog broadcasting approaching, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) introduced the Digital TV Delay Act (S.352) on January 29, 2009. The Senate passed the bill, which delays the transition from February 17, 2009, to June 12, 2009, by unanimous consent the same day. The House passed the bill February 4, 2009, and it was signed into law on February 11, 2009.

Details
The Digital TV Delay Act affects the transition to digital TV:
 * Delays anal0g-to-DTV transition from February 17, 2009, to June 12, 2009.
 * Extends the license terms of the commercial and public safety entities that will use the DTV spectrum after the transition by the same length as the delay (115 days).
 * Allows consumers who never used coupons to apply for replacement coupons for DTV converter boxes; ensures that no household can use more than two coupons.
 * Allows broadcasters to shift to DTV before the new transition date, as long as the move does not interfere with another broadcast signal. Broadcasters are subject to existing FCC rules about consumer notification.
 * Allows public safety entities to use the DTV spectrum before the new transition date, subject to existing FCC rules.

Senate action
Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) introduced the bill on January 29, 2009, and it was passed by unanimous consent the same day.

House action
The House received the bill on February 2, 2009. The House closed the bill to amendments on February 4, 2009, and later that day passed the bill with a vote of 264-158. On February 11, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.



External sources

 * THOMAS

External articles

 * Suzanne Choney, "House votes to delay digital TV transition," MSNBC.com, February 4, 2009.
 * Brian Stelter, "Digital TV Delay Runs Into Protest," The New York Times, January 16, 2009.