The Digital TV Transition: A Brief Overview (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Feb. 15, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RS22217 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Lennard G. Kruger and Linda K. Moore, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
During the first session of the 109th Congress, policymakers sought to accelerate the
nation's
transition to digital television and to expedite the transfer of radio frequency channels from the
broadcast industry to public safety and commercial users no later than 2009. Broadcasters are
holding spectrum in the 700 megahertz (MHZ) band (channels 52-69) that they would be required
to relinquish after the transition to digital television (DTV) is achieved. Without a hard deadline,
the transition to digital television has been postponed. Meanwhile, public safety officials want 700
MHZ spectrum that has been assigned to them, but not delivered, in order to build new interoperable
networks, while the commercial wireless industry would like access to the spectrum for new
services.
Legislative language to clear spectrum and facilitate the transition to digital televison was
included in both the House and Senate FY2005 budget reconciliation bills ( H.R. 4241 / S. 1932 ). The final version of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 ( P.L.
109-171 ) sets the digital transition deadline at February 17, 2009, and allocates up to $1.5 billion for
a digital-to-analog converter box program. P.L. 109-171 does not include provisions on
"downconversion," nor does it address the debate over expanding "must carry" rules
to include
multicasting must carry. The enacted legislation also does not include provisions on the
"broadcast
flag." This report will not be updated.
