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S 25 111th Congress Senate

Digital TV Transition Fairness Act

Official title: A bill to ensure access to basic broadcast television after the Digital Television Transition, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 7, 2009 Introduced by: Sanders, Bernard Independent · Vermont See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightConsumer affairs
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesGovernment trust fundsTelecommunication rates and feesTelevision and film
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 7, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jan 7, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action January 7, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Digital TV Transition Fairness Act - Requires the Department of Commerce to implement and administer a program to obtain coupons that can be applied toward: (1) the cost to install a digital-to-analog converter box; (2) the purchase and installation of an indoor or outdoor antenna, or both if needed, to facilitate the reception and display of signals of channels broadcast in digital television service; and (3) the cost to install, or the cost of any other equipment needed to receive and display, basic broadcast television service.

Sets forth consumer and product eligibility criteria.

Provides for a website and telephone hotline to provide relevant information to assist consumers that have degraded or lost signals or channels as a result of the full power transition from analog to digital television that is to occur on February 17, 2009.

Requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to develop anti-fraud measures and procedures to ensure that only eligible households and individuals receive a coupon.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate rules requiring that each multichannel video programming distributor providing broadcast television for a local market provide to eligible consumers in that local market access to basic broadcast television service. Requires the FCC to develop anti-fraud measures and procedures to ensure that only eligible consumers are provided access to basic broadcast television service.

Directs the FCC to carry out an education and outreach campaign to inform and educate consumers on the availability, benefits, and advantages of the programs and requirements established under this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 25: Digital TV Transition Fairness Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-25/
MLA
"S. 25: Digital TV Transition Fairness Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-25/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 25, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-25/.
Markdown link
[S. 25: Digital TV Transition Fairness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-25/)
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