I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5635 
To suspend temporarily the duty on digital-to-analog converter boxes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 13, 2008 
Mr. KIND (for himself and Mr. BRADY of Texas) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To suspend temporarily the duty on digital-to-analog 
converter boxes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Digital Television 
Transition Consumer Relief Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Digital Television and Public Safety 
Act of 2005 (Public Law 108–171) provided that all 
full power television broadcasts be switched to digital 
format on February 17, 2009. 
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(2) Nearly 20,000,000 United States consumers 
do not subscribe to cable or satellite television serv-
ice and millions more have untethered television sets 
that only receive over-the-air signals. 
(3) Upon the conversion to the digital format 
mandated by Congress, these households will no 
longer receive any television signal unless they are 
equipped with digital-to-analog converters. 
(4) Low and middle income families, rural resi-
dents, American Indians, senior citizens, the 
infirmed and the physically and mentally impaired 
are less likely to own television sets capable of re-
ceiving a digital signal without the purchase of dig-
ital-to-analog converters. 
(5) The conversion to an all digital format 
should not place an unfair economic burden on those 
American families least able to afford it. 
(6) It is the sense of Congress that the costs to 
convert to an all digital format should be lessened 
for all Americans, and especially those of lower in-
comes. 
(7) The United States Customs and Border 
Protection Agency is collecting an import tax, or 
duty, on converter boxes that adds to consumers 
costs to convert to receiving a digital signal. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITION. 
For purposes of subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, the 
term ‘‘digital-to-analog converter box’’ means a stand- 
alone device that does not contain features or functions 
except those necessary to enable a consumer to convert 
any channel broadcast in the digital television service into 
a format that the consumer can display on television re-
ceivers designed to receive and display signals only in the 
analog television service, but may also include a remote 
control device. 
SEC. 4. TEMPORARY DUTY SUSPENSION. 
Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tar-
iff Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting 
in numerical sequence the following new heading: 
‘‘ 
9902.xx.xx 
Digital-to-analog converter 
boxes (provided for in sub-
heading 8528.71.40) .............
Free 
No change 
No change 
On or before 
12/31/2009
’’. 
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE; REFUND OF CUSTOMS DUTIES 
PAID. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsequent to the enactment 
of this Act, the amendment made by section 4 applies to 
goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consump-
tion, on or after December 1, 2007. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 514 of 
the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other pro-
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vision of law, upon proper request filed with the Bureau 
of Customs and Border Protection before the 90th day 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, any entry, 
or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, of any 
goods to which duty-free treatment is provided under sec-
tion 4 of this Act— 
(1) that was made on or after December 1, 
2007, and 
(2) with respect to which there would have been 
no duty if section 4 of this Act applied to such entry 
or withdrawal, 
shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such Act ap-
plied to such entry or withdrawal. 
(c) REQUESTS.—Liquidation or reliquidation may be 
made under subsection (b) with respect to an entry de-
scribed in subsection (a) only if a request therefore is filed 
with the Customs and Border Protection within 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act and the request 
contains sufficient information to enable Customs and 
Border Protection to locate the entry or reconciliation 
entry if it cannot be located. 
(d) PAYMENT OF AMOUNTS OWED.—Any amounts 
owed by the United States pursuant to the liquidation or 
reliquidation of any entry under subsection (b) shall be 
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paid, with interest, not later than 180 days after the date 
of such liquidation or reliquidation. 
Æ 
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