DTV Transition Assistance Act

Bill: 110-s-2607
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer education
Economics and Public Finance
Equipment and supplies
Grants-in-aid
Housing and Community Development
Minorities
Social Welfare
Television broadcasting
Television stations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-07
text: 
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend through FY2012 the requirement for the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce to make payments from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund to implement a program to reimburse each licensee of an eligible low-power television station for equipment to upgrade low-power television stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities.
 
Requires such reimbursements to be issued to eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009 (currently, no earlier than FY2010).
 

action_date: 2008-06-10
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend through FY2012 the requirement for the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce to make payments from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund to implement a program to reimburse each licensee of an eligible low-power television station for equipment to upgrade low-power television stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities.
 
Requires such reimbursements to be issued to eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009 (currently, no earlier than FY2010).
 

action_date: 2008-06-19
text: 
DTV Transition Assistance Act - Amends the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) with respect to the low-power television and translator digital-to-analog conversion program.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce to determine whether the full amounts provided from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund will be needed for payments to eligible low-power TV stations toward purchase of a digital-to-analog conversion device to convert the incoming digital signal of their corresponding full-power TV station to analog format transmission on the low-power TV station's analog channel. Permits the Secretary to make adjustments to such determination from time to time. 
 
Authorizes the Assistant Secretary, if such full amounts are not needed, to use the remaining amount for consumer education and technical assistance regarding the digital television (DTV) transition and the availability of the digital-to-analog converter box program (in addition to any pre-existing amounts expended for such purpose). Allows the use of such funds for partnering with, providing grants to, and contracting with non-profit organizations or public interest groups in achieving these efforts.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary, if such education program is initiated, to develop a plan to address the educational and technical assistance needs of vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, individuals residing in rural and remote areas, and minorities, including, where appropriate, education plans focusing on the need for analog pass-through digital converter boxes in areas served by low-power or translator stations. Requires the Assistant Secretary also to consider the speed with which these objectives can be accomplished to the greatest public benefit.
 
 
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend through FY2012 the requirement for the Assistant Secretary to make payments from the Fund to implement a program to reimburse each licensee of an eligible low-power television station for equipment to upgrade low-power television stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities.
 
Requires such reimbursements to be issued to eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009 (currently, no earlier than October 1, 2010).
 

action_date: 2008-07-09
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on June 19, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
DTV Transition Assistance Act - Amends the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) with respect to the low-power television and translator digital-to-analog conversion program.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce to determine whether the full amounts provided from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund will be needed for payments to eligible low-power TV stations toward purchase of a digital-to-analog conversion device to convert the incoming digital signal of their corresponding full-power TV station to analog format transmission on the low-power TV station's analog channel. Permits the Secretary to make adjustments to such determination from time to time. 
 
Authorizes the Assistant Secretary, if such full amounts are not needed, to use the remaining amount for consumer education and technical assistance regarding the digital television (DTV) transition and the availability of the digital-to-analog converter box program (in addition to any pre-existing amounts expended for such purpose). Allows the use of such funds for partnering with, providing grants to, and contracting with non-profit organizations or public interest groups in achieving these efforts.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary, if such education program is initiated, to develop a plan to address the educational and technical assistance needs of vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, individuals residing in rural and remote areas, and minorities, including, where appropriate, education plans focusing on the need for analog pass-through digital converter boxes in areas served by low-power or translator stations. Requires the Assistant Secretary also to consider the speed with which these objectives can be accomplished to the greatest public benefit.
 
 
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend through FY2012 the requirement for the Assistant Secretary to make payments from the Fund to implement a program to reimburse each licensee of an eligible low-power television station for equipment to upgrade low-power television stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities.
 
Requires such reimbursements to be issued to eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009 (currently, no earlier than October 1, 2010).
 

action_date: 2008-07-30
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on June 19, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
DTV Transition Assistance Act - Amends the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) with respect to the low-power television and translator digital-to-analog conversion program.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce to determine whether the full amounts provided from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund will be needed for payments to eligible low-power TV stations toward purchase of a digital-to-analog conversion device to convert the incoming digital signal of their corresponding full-power TV station to analog format transmission on the low-power TV station's analog channel. Permits the Secretary to make adjustments to such determination from time to time. 
 
Authorizes the Assistant Secretary, if such full amounts are not needed, to use the remaining amount for consumer education and technical assistance regarding the digital television (DTV) transition and the availability of the digital-to-analog converter box program (in addition to any pre-existing amounts expended for such purpose). Allows the use of such funds for partnering with, providing grants to, and contracting with non-profit organizations or public interest groups in achieving these efforts.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary, if such education program is initiated, to develop a plan to address the educational and technical assistance needs of vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, individuals residing in rural and remote areas, and minorities, including, where appropriate, education plans focusing on the need for analog pass-through digital converter boxes in areas served by low-power or translator stations. Requires the Assistant Secretary also to consider the speed with which these objectives can be accomplished to the greatest public benefit.
 
 
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend through FY2012 the requirement for the Assistant Secretary to make payments from the Fund to implement a program to reimburse each licensee of an eligible low-power television station for equipment to upgrade low-power television stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities.
 
Requires such reimbursements to be issued to eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009 (currently, no earlier than October 1, 2010).
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 110-295.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 110-295.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6306)
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6306)
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2607.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6306-6309)
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Mr. Hill moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-06-20
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5915)
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 774.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye without amendment. With written report No. 110-348.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye without amendment. With written report No. 110-348.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S790)
action_date: 2008-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S790)
action_date: 2008-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 110-295