III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 576 

Designating August 2008 as ‘‘Digital Television Transition Awareness 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 22, 2008 

Mr. HATCH (for himself, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. VOINOVICH, Mr. 

CORNYN, Mr. BURR, Mr. TESTER, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. 

SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. INHOFE, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. 

COLEMAN, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. SANDERS, 

Mr. SPECTER, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. 

NELSON of Nebraska, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. CRAPO, and Mr. WICKER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating August 2008 as ‘‘Digital Television Transition 

Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas, starting February 17, 2009, full-power television 

stations will shut down their traditional analog signals 

and will broadcast in digital only pursuant to the Digital 

Television Transmission and Public Safety Act of 2005 

(47 U.S.C. 309 note); 

Whereas some studies indicate that 64 percent of consumers 

know about the transition to digital television, and of 

those consumers 74 percent have major misconceptions 

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2 

•SRES 576 IS 

about the impact of the transition on their television 

services; 

Whereas many consumers who will be left without any television service after February 17, 2009, may be unaware 

of both the transition and the Government coupon program created to defray the cost of a converter box; 

Whereas markets in the West and Mid-West have the highest 

percentage of consumers who rely on over-the-air television signals; 

Whereas the Salt Lake City, Utah, area has the single highest percentage of consumers who rely on over-the-air television signals among major cities in the United States, 

with nearly 23 percent of all households with television 

sets, more than 200,000 homes, relying on free analog 

television signals; 

Whereas more than 20 percent of homes with television sets 

in Fresno, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, also 

rely solely on free over-the-air television signals; 

Whereas the transition to digital television is significant to 

vulnerable populations such as senior citizens and low-income and minority households; and 

Whereas designating a ‘‘Digital Television Transition Awareness Month’’ will help Congress to encourage the development of local action plans focused on strategic outreach 

to the communities most affected by the transition to digital television, including senior citizens and residents of 

rural areas: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates August 2008 as ‘‘Digital Tele3 vision Transition Awareness Month’’— 

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•SRES 576 IS 

1 (A) to increase public awareness regarding 

2 the February 17, 2009, transition to digital tel3 evision; and 

4 (B) to encourage consumers to become 

5 educated about participating in the Government 

6 coupon program for obtaining converter boxes; 

7 (2) encourages consumers to make the transi8 tion to digital television well before February 17, 

9 2009, so that consumers have time to obtain and 

10 connect converter boxes; and 

11 (3) encourages local nonprofit organizations, 

12 such as religious congregations, scout troops, and 

13 school-based community service groups— 

14 (A) to assist households to apply for and 

15 obtain Government coupons and converter boxes 

16 and to install converter boxes; and 

17 (B) to educate consumers about Internet 

18 websites and other sources of valuable informa19 tion regarding the transition to digital tele20 vision. 

Æ 

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