Lawmakers Spar Over New Digital TV Deadline

[Guest ariceffron]

WHY DID CONGRESS PASS A LAW SAYING WE NEED DIGITAL TV BY '07. WHO CAN EXPLAIN THIS.....

Lawmakers Spar Over New Digital TV Deadline

2 hours, 15 minutes ago Entertainment - Reuters TV

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. senators urged restraint before setting a deadline for television broadcasters to switch to digital airwaves, raising the chances of a battle with counterparts in the U.S. House of Representatives who want a final date.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens told broadcasters he understood leaders of the House Commerce Committee, Reps. Joe Barton and Fred Upton, want to set Dec. 31, 2006 for finishing the digital television transition.

"There's a lot to be answered before that question is decided in my judgment," Stevens, an Alaskan Republican, told the National Association of Broadcasters, which represents hundreds of local television stations.

He said he wasn't wed to any particular proposal.

Current law requires broadcasters to return their analog airwaves and use only digital spectrum by Dec. 31, 2006 or when 85 percent of U.S. homes can see the new signals, whichever comes later. Most officials expect that could take a decade.

The government plans to auction the analog airwaves to commercial wireless service providers, a sale that could bring in billions of dollars which lawmakers are eyeing to fill holes in the budget.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said the transition should not be accomplished solely to resolve a budget problem.

"We shouldn't be using the spectrum as a tool to raise money, we should be using it as a tool to make broadcasting better for everybody," Reid, from Nevada, told the group.

Broadcasters are worried that most Americans will not be able to see the new, higher-quality digital television because they have not bought expensive equipment needed to do so. Plus, they are concerned cable operators may convert digital back to analog for subscribers.

Barton told the NAB gathering he "wanted there to be a hard date and I want that date to be Dec. 31, 2006."

"I think I've got the votes in the House," the Texas Republican said, adding that he would introduce legislation soon. "Then we'll work with the Senate and see."

He said he believed there was support in the Senate for a specific cutoff date, just not his deadline.

To try to alleviate concerns of broadcasters, Barton has proposed using some of the funds raised in the auction to subsidize converter boxes for one television in some households, particularly for low-income families.

But members of his own committee expressed concerns at a recent hearing that such a move would have enormous implications on consumers.

[Guest ariceffron]

NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS??? WHO CAN EXPLAIN THIS BETTER.....

[Claude]

As long as they don't prohibit the use of vinyl records ...