Skip to main content
S 2607 110th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Commerce Consumer education Economics and Public Finance Equipment and supplies Grants-in-aid Housing and Community Development Minorities Social Welfare Television broadcasting Television stations

DTV Transition Assistance Act

Introduced: February 7, 2008 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 22 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2008
Became Public Law No: 110-295.
Jul 30, 2008
Signed by President.
Jul 22, 2008
Presented to President.
Jul 9, 2008
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6306)
Jul 9, 2008
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6306)
Jul 9, 2008
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2607.
Jul 9, 2008
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6306-6309)
Jul 9, 2008
Mr. Hill moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jul 9, 2008
Cleared for White House.
Jul 9, 2008
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 20, 2008
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 20, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jun 20, 2008
Received in the House.
Jun 19, 2008
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Jun 19, 2008
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Jun 19, 2008
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5915)
Jun 10, 2008
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 774.
Jun 10, 2008
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye without amendment. With written report No. 110-348.
Apr 24, 2008
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 7, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S790)
Feb 7, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S790)
Feb 7, 2008
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(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).

What's happening now July 30, 2008

Became Public Law No: 110-295.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1