DTV Delay Act

Floor Speech

DTV DELAY ACT (Extensions of Remarks - February 02, 2009)

Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, the question of whether to delay the transition to digital television is important and deserves thoughtful consideration. But today's debate misses a key point that will affect many Vermonters, many Americans, living in rural areas: once the transition to digital television is completed, even if every household in America has a DTV converter box, many TVs simply will not work.

Reception of a digital television signal is an ``all-or-nothing'' proposal: rural areas that currently receive a weak analog TV signal may receive no digital signal at all. For many people across Vermont and across the country, this transition does not represent a step forward, but a step backward. I am particularly concerned about the many elderly viewers living in rural areas; for them, television is a lifeline that provides information and entertainment.

We know that this problem is out there. In order to ensure that all our constituents have access to broadcast television, we need to do one or all of three things: increase digital television broadcast signal range; increase the ability of viewers to receive the signal through antennae; or increase access to low-cost cable or satellite television.

If there were an easy answer, this problem would most likely have already been solved. But the problem persists, and it must be addressed. I look forward to working with Chairman Waxman as well as you, Chairman Boucher, to ensure that rural Americans maintain access to television broadcast over the public airwaves.

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