Rep Boucher: DTV Transition Needs Technical Assistance Component

Rep Rick Boucher (D-VA) said that the government's digital television transition plan does not provide any money for new DTV antennas and lacks a technical assistance component, which could prove to be a problem for some viewers still connected to rabbit ears. Rep Boucher said he had lots of rural, elderly, low-income constituents who would have some major challenges with issues like reception via indoor and outdoor antennas. He expects that 10+% of his constituents will need to replace their outdoor antennas. Rep Boucher suggested that the government could take some of the $20 billion in spectrum auction proceeds and "enhance the coupon program, provide technical assistance. He also wants the government to pay for the hardware and labor for replacing antennas.
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