IV 

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 

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•HCON 339 IH 

visions 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; 


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•HCON 339 IH 

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 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 


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•HCON 339 IH 

1 Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Communica2 tions Commission shall enter into a partnership with the 

3 Administration on Aging and the National Telecommuni4 cations and Information Administration, to create a com5 prehensive public education campaign that provides infor6 mation and assistance to older individuals, their families, 

7 caregivers, and aging support networks about measures 

8 that may be taken— 

9 (1) to ensure that such older individuals receive 

10 uninterrupted television service during the transition 

11 from analog to digital television that is to occur on 

12 February 17, 2009; and 

13 (2) to mitigate the likelihood of success of 

14 fraudulent schemes relating to such transition that 

15 may target such older individuals. 

Æ 


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