H10944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 10, 2008 

(1) emergency information, including critical details regarding the emergency, as 

broadcast or required to be broadcast by fullpower stations in the digital television service; 

(2) information, in both English and Spanish, and accessible to persons with disabilities, concerning— 

(A) the digital television transition, including the fact that a transition has taken 

place and that additional action is required 

to continue receiving television service, including emergency notifications; and 

(B) the steps required to enable viewers to 

receive such emergency information via the 

digital television service and to convert to 

receiving digital television service, including 

a phone number and Internet address by 

which help with such transition may be obtained in both English and Spanish; and 

(3) such other information related to consumer education about the digital television 

transition or public health and safety or 

emergencies as the Commission may find to 

be consistent with the public interest. 

SEC. 3. LIMITATIONS. 

In designing the program required by this 

Act, the Commission shall— 

(1) take into account market-by-market 

needs, based upon factors such as channel 

and transmitter availability; 

(2) ensure that broadcasting of the program specified in section 2(b) will not cause 

harmful interference with signals in the digital television service; 

(3) not require the analog television service signals broadcast under this Act to be retransmitted or otherwise carried pursuant to 

section 325(b), 338, 339, 340, 614, or 615 of the 

Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 325(b), 

338, 339, 340, 614, or 615); 

(4) take into consideration broadcasters’ 

digital power levels and transition and coordination plans that already have been 

adopted with respect to cable systems and 

satellite carriers’ systems; 

(5) prohibit any broadcast of analog television service signals under section 2(b) on 

any spectrum that is approved or pending approval by the Commission to be used for public safety radio services, including television 

channels 14-20; and 

(6) not include the analog spectrum between channels 52 and 69, inclusive (between 

frequencies 698 and 806 megahertz, inclusive) 

reclaimed from analog television broadcasting pursuant to section 309(j) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)). 

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

As used in this Act, the term ‘‘emergency 

information’’ has the meaning such term has 

under part 79 of the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (47 C.F.R. 

part 79). 

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today in strong support of S. 3663, the 

Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act. 

On February 18, 2009, full-power television stations in the United States 

will stop broadcasting in analog and 

transition to all-digital broadcasting. 

This is undoubtedly an important step 

forward for our country; it allows us to 

more efficiently utilize our airwaves, 

and to lay the groundwork for a nationwide public safety network. However, we must proceed with caution to 

ensure that segments of our population 

are not left behind and remain informed in cases of emergency. 

That is why I introduced the SAFER 

Act. This bill creates a program within 

the FCC that allows for the continuation of analog signals to televisions 

for 30 days following the DTV transition. It ensures that, once the digital 

television transition has taken place, 

unprepared analog televisions will receive a short ‘‘slide’’—in English and 

Spanish—explaining that the digital 

transition has occurred and what viewers need to do to continue receiving 

television broadcasts. The bill also allows for emergency communications, 

such as natural disaster alerts, to be 

broadcast to unprepared analog televisions. The fires that raged through 

my congressional district and other 

parts of southern California last month 

are an example of alerts that could be 

broadcast to television viewers who 

were unprepared for the DTV transition. 

According to the GAO, over 17 million households rely exclusively on 

analog over-the-air television, and 

while broadcasters, the FCC and others 

have been working furiously to let 

them know about the upcoming transition, there will inevitably be some 

folks left behind. In fact, that is exactly what happened after an FCC 

‘‘test’’ transition in Wilmington, NC. 

Despite saturation advertising announcing the change and a geographic 

topography most conducive to it, nearly 2,000 households woke up to find that 

their televisions did not work; when 

extrapolated to the entire Nation this 

could mean that at least 1.5 million 

households will wake up on February 

18 without a working television. 

We also know that certain segments 

of our population will likely be disproportionately impacted by the digital transition: Latinos, African Americans, and seniors. As someone who represents a congressional district that is 

42 percent Latino and has many senior 

citizens, I find this very troubling. 

Clearly, we should be doing everything 

we can to ensure that no Americans 

are left behind during this important 

time. 

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to my colleague Senator ROCKEFELLER and his 

staff for taking leadership on this important bill in the Senate, and to 

Chairman DINGELL and his staff for 

working closely with us to ensure that 

no one is left behind by the DTV transition. 

I urge my colleagues to support S. 

3663, the Short-term Analog Flash and 

Emergency Readiness Act. 

The Senate bill was ordered to be 

read a third time, was read the third 

time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table. 

f 

GENERAL LEAVE 

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask 

unanimous consent that all Members 

may have 5 legislative days to revise 

and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill 

that was just passed by the House. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California? 

There was no objection. 

MAKING A TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO THE PAUL WELLSTONE 

AND PETE DOMENICI MENTAL 

HEALTH PARITY AND ADDICTION 

EQUITY ACT OF 2008 

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means 

be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 3712) to 

make a technical correction in the 

Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici 

Mental Health Parity and Addiction 

Equity Act of 2008, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House. 

The Clerk read the title of the Senate 

bill. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California? 

There was no objection. 

The text of the Senate bill is as follows: 

S. 3712 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. TECHNICAL CORRECTION IN MENTAL 

HEALTH PARITY EFFECTIVE DATE. 

Section 512(e)(2)(B) of the Paul Wellstone 

and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and 

Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (subtitle B of 

title V of division C of Public Law 110–343) is 

amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2009’’ and 

inserting ‘‘January 1, 2010’’. 

The Senate bill was ordered to be 

read a third time, was read the third 

time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table. 

f 

GENERAL LEAVE 

Mrs. CAPPS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 

remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill just passed by the 

House. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California? 

There was no objection. 

f 

ENSURING THAT THE COMPENSATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS 

ATTACHED TO THE OFFICE OF 

SECRETARY OF STATE ARE 

THOSE WHICH WERE IN EFFECT 

ON JANUARY 1, 2007 

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I 

ask unanimous consent to take from 

the Speaker’s table S.J. Res. 46 and ask 

for its immediate consideration in the 

House. 

The Clerk read the title of the Senate 

joint resolution. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois? 

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the 

right to object. If I could inquire of the 

gentleman: Would this bill, in fact, 

proactively cover the Secretary of 

State if it is Senator HILLARY CLINTON? 

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Yes, it covers 

whoever is nominated.