Sec. 7501. DIGITAL TELEVISION CONVERSION DEADLINE
452 words·~2 min read·
/statute-compilations/comps-8188/sec-7501A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
## SEC. 7501 DIGITAL TELEVISION CONVERSION DEADLINE ###
(a)Findings Congress finds the following: ####
(1)Congress granted television broadcasters additional 6 megahertz blocks of spectrum to transmit digital broadcasts simultaneously with the analog broadcasts they submit on their original 6 megahertz blocks of spectrum. ####
(2)Section 309(j)(14) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(14)) requires each television broadcaster to cease analog transmissions and return 6 megahertz of spectrum not later than— #####
(A)December 31, 2006; or #####
(B)the date on which more than 85 percent of the television households in the market of such broadcaster can view digital broadcast television channels using a digital television, a digital-to-analog converter box, cable service, or satellite service. ####
(3)Twenty-four megahertz of spectrum occupied by television broadcasters has been earmarked for use by first responders as soon as the television broadcasters return the spectrum broadcasters being used to provide analog transmissions. This spectrum would be ideal to provide first responders with interoperable communications channels. ####
(4)Large parts of the vacated spectrum could be auctioned for advanced commercial services, such as wireless broadband. ####
(5)The 85 percent penetration test described in paragraph (2)(B) could delay the termination of analog television broadcasts and the return of spectrum well beyond 2007, hindering the use of that spectrum for these important public safety and advanced commercial uses. ####
(6)While proposals to require broadcasters to return, on a date certain, the spectrum earmarked for future public safety use may improve the ability of public safety entities to begin planning for use of this spectrum, such proposals have certain deficiencies. The proposals would require the dislocation of up to 75 broadcast stations, which also serve a critical public safety function by broadcasting weather, traffic, disaster, and other safety alerts. Such disparate treatment of broadcasters would be unfair to the broadcasters and their respective viewers. Requiring the return of all analog broadcast spectrum by a date certain would have the benefit of addressing the digital television transition in a comprehensive fashion that treats all broadcasters and viewers equally, while freeing spectrum for advanced commercial services. ####
(7)The Federal Communications Commission should consider all regulatory means available to expedite the return of the analog spectrum. ###
(b)Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— ####
(1)Congress must act to pass legislation in the first session of the 109th Congress that establishes a comprehensive approach to the timely return of analog broadcast spectrum as early as December 31, 2006; and ####
(2)any delay in the adoption of the legislation described in paragraph
(1)will delay the ability of public safety entities to begin planning to use this needed spectrum.
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
U.S. Code
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 7501
DIGITAL TELEVISION CONVERSION DEADLINE
Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources