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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 576 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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, Mr. Wicker, Mr. 
 Hagel, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following resolution; which 
             was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                             June 12, 2008

                Reported by Mr. Leahy, without amendment

                             July 11, 2008

      Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 about the impact of the transition on their 
        television services;
Whereas many consumers who are unaware of both the transition and the Government 
        coupon program crafted to defray the cost of a converter box may be left 
        without any television service after February 17, 2009;
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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates August 2008 as ``Digital Television 
        Transition Awareness Month''--
                    (A) to increase public awareness regarding the 
                February 17, 2009, transition to digital television; 
                and
                    (B) to encourage consumers to become educated about 
                the steps they need to take to retain their television 
                service, including possibly participating in the 
                Government coupon program for obtaining converter 
                boxes;
            (2) encourages consumers to make the transition to digital 
        television well before February 17, 2009; and
            (3) encourages local nonprofit organizations, such as 
        religious congregations, scout troops, and school-based 
        community service groups--
                    (A) to assist households to apply for and obtain 
                Government coupons and converter boxes and to install 
                converter boxes; and
                    (B) to educate consumers about Internet websites 
                and other sources of valuable information regarding the 
                transition to digital television.
                                 <all>
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