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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 339 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 339

  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the necessity to improve 
public awareness in the United States among older individuals and their 
    families and caregivers about the impending Digital Television 
Transition through the establishment of a Federal interagency taskforce 
 between the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration on 
Aging, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
and the outside advice of appropriate members of the aging network and 
                            industry groups.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 2008

 Mr. Butterfield submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the necessity to improve 
public awareness in the United States among older individuals and their 
    families and caregivers about the impending Digital Television 
Transition through the establishment of a Federal interagency taskforce 
 between the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration on 
Aging, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
and the outside advice of appropriate members of the aging network and 
                            industry groups.

Whereas, on February 17, 2009, television stations will cease broadcasting 
        analog signals and traditional analog televisions will stop working 
        unless they are connected to a digital-to-analog converter box, cable, 
        or satellite;
Whereas a study conducted by the National Association of Broadcasters revealed 
        that over half of the respondents had ``seen, read, or heard nothing'' 
        about the transition to digital television, and only 10 percent were 
        able to guess that the transition would occur in 2009;
Whereas people over the age of 65 are more likely to be found in over-the-air 
        households and are, therefore, a much more vulnerable group with respect 
        to maintaining television service as the digital transition is 
        completed;
Whereas, as a group, are less likely to have purchased a new television in the 
        past 3 years, are less likely to have HDTV capabilities in their 
        households, and are less likely to own a digital television will not 
        have the same exposure to digital television transition messages from 
        electronic retailers as will younger members of the population, and will 
        need special focus in efforts to educate the public with respect to the 
        transition from analog to digital television;
Whereas according to a Nielsen Media Research report, approximately 20,000,000 
        households rely exclusively on analog or free over-the-air broadcasts;
Whereas of these 20,000,000 households, approximately 8,000,000 include at least 
        1 person over the age of 50, according to the Nielsen Media Research TV 
        Household Estimates;
Whereas according to the General Accountability Office, about 48 percent of 
        over-the-air households have incomes under $30,000;
Whereas frail, homebound, rural, minority, disabled, limited English proficient, 
        and low-income older individuals will need specific guidance and 
        assistance in order to purchase and properly install a digital-to-analog 
        converter box;
Whereas without a targeted outreach program, residents in nursing homes and 
        assisted living facilities represent a segment of the population at risk 
        for losing television service as a result of the digital transition;
Whereas failure to seamlessly transition from analog to digital television will 
        restrict or eliminate the access of older individuals to essential 
        preparedness and safety information in the event of an emergency or 
        disaster, as such individuals will be unable to receive national and 
        local alerts aired over television;
Whereas it is now 6 years after the communication failures of September 11, 
        2001, which spurred Federal Government adoption of a firm digital 
        television transition date; and
Whereas unfortunately the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications 
        Commission have not adequately assured Congress that vulnerable 
        households will be properly educated and prepared for such transition, 
        and older individuals, their families, caregivers, and aging support 
        networks will need targeted outreach to inform them of steps to take in 
        order to ensure uninterrupted television service and to help mitigate 
        potential digital television transition scams that may target the 
        elderly: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the Chairman and Commissioners of 
the Federal Communications Commission shall enter into a partnership 
with the Administration on Aging and the National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration, to create a comprehensive public 
education campaign that provides information and assistance to older 
individuals, their families, caregivers, and aging support networks 
about measures that may be taken--
            (1) to ensure that such older individuals receive 
        uninterrupted television service during the transition from 
        analog to digital television that is to occur on February 17, 
        2009; and
            (2) to mitigate the likelihood of success of fraudulent 
        schemes relating to such transition that may target such older 
        individuals.
                                 <all>
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