205 
with the greatest need, including analog-only 
consumers, are adequately served; 
(D) to monitor and advise the Commission 
through 2 DTV Progress Reports regarding the 
course of the outreach program during calendar 
year 2008; such reports shall describe planned ef-
forts by the private sector, both nationally and 
in various television broadcast markets, to in-
form consumers about the digital transition, and 
shall evaluate the effectiveness of the outreach 
program and the digital-to-analog converter box 
subsidy program authorized under section 3005 
of Digital Television Transition and Public 
Safety Act of 2005 (public Law 109-171; 120 
Stat. 24); 
(E) to advise the Commission about modi-
fications necessary to the national plan to mini-
mize potential disruption to consumers attrib-
utable to the transition to digital broadcasting 
required under section 309(j)(14) of the Commu-
nications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(14)); 
and 
(F) to recommend to the Commission proce-
dures for contacting persons with disabilities, 
which shall include— 
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(i) use of telecommunications relay 
services for persons who are deaf, hard of 
hearing, or with speech disabilities; 
(ii) distribution of printed items avail-
able in alternative formats for persons with 
vision and learning disabilities; and 
(iii) other alternative formats, includ-
ing accessible websites for persons with dis-
abilities. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS TO PROMOTE SALE OF DIGITAL 
TELEVISIONS AND CONVERTER BOXES.— 
(1) DIGITAL TUNER MANDATE.—Part I of title 
III (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 303 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 303A. REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITAL TELEVISION 
SETS AND CERTAIN OTHER EQUIPMENT. 
‘‘After March 1, 2007, it is unlawful for a manufac-
turer or importer to import into the United States or ship 
in interstate commerce for sale or resale to the public, a 
television broadcast receiver (as defined in section 15.3(w) 
of the Commission’s regulations (47 C.F.R. 15.3(w))) that 
is not equipped with a tuner capable of receiving and decod-
ing digital signals.’’. 
(2) COMMISSION NOT TO CHANGE SCHEDULE.— 
The Federal Communications Commission may not 
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revise the digital television reception capability im-
plementation schedule under section 15.117(i) of its 
regulations (47 C.F.R. 15.117(i)) except to conform 
that section to the requirements of section 303A of the 
Communications Act of 1934. 
(3) CONVERTER BOXES.— 
(A) ENERGY STANDARDS.—Within 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the As-
sistant Secretary of Commerce for Communica-
tions and Information, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Energy, shall set the energy stand-
ards for digital-to-analog converter boxes (as de-
fined in section 3005(d) of the Digital Television 
Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 
U.S.C. 309 note)), taking into consideration the 
cost of the converter box. The standards shall 
meet the criteria specified in section 325(o) of 
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6295(o)). 
(B) APPLICATION.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the standards set under 
subparagraph (A) shall solely govern the energy 
standards for converter boxes manufactured or 
imported for use in the United States on and 
after the effective date established by the Assist-
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ant Secretary. This paragraph shall not apply 
after May 17, 2010. 
(C) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
3005(d) of the Digital Television Transition and 
Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘a clock, other inci-
dental features, or’’ after ‘‘include’’. 
(d) DOWNCONVERSION FROM DIGITAL SIGNALS
TO 
ANALOG SIGNALS.— 
(1) DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG
CONVERSION.—Section 
614(b)(4) (47 U.S.C. 534(b)(4)) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (I); and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
following: 
‘‘(B) DIGITAL VIDEO SIGNAL.—With respect 
to any television station that is transmitting 
broadcast programming exclusively in the digital 
television service in a local market, a cable oper-
ator of a cable system in that market shall carry 
any digital video signal requiring carriage 
under this section and program-related material 
in the digital format transmitted by that station, 
without material degradation, if the licensee for 
that station relies on this section or section 615 
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to obtain carriage of the digital video signal and 
program-related material on that cable system in 
that market. 
‘‘(C) MULTIPLE FORMATS PERMITTED.—A 
cable operator of a cable system may offer the 
digital video signal and program-related mate-
rial of a local television station described in sub-
paragraph (A) in any analog or digital format 
or formats, whether or not doing so requires con-
version from the format transmitted by the local 
television station, so long as— 
‘‘(i) the cable operator offers the digital 
video signal and program-related material 
in the converted analog or digital format or 
formats without material degradation; and 
‘‘(ii) also offers the digital video signal 
and program-related material in the man-
ner or manners required by this paragraph. 
‘‘(D) TRANSITIONAL
CONVERSIONS.—Not-
withstanding the requirement in subparagraph 
(B) to carry the digital video signal and pro-
gram-related material in the digital format 
transmitted by the local television station, but 
subject to the prohibition on material degrada-
tion, until February 17, 2014— 
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