S.25 A bill to ensure access to basic broadcast television after the Digital Television Transition

Procedural Step: Inactive

Summary

Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has re-introduced a basic TV "lifeline" bill. The bill would assure that over-the-air only viewers at risk of losing some TV stations' signals after the digital television transition continue to have access to their local TV stations. The legislation would provide for an $80 coupon that the National Telecommunications & Information Administration would administer to cover the cost of getting help installing a converter box, or toward the purchase of an outdoor antenna, or both if they are needed to pull in a digital signal. The subsidy could also apply to equipment or set-up costs of getting a basic multichannel video package supplying local TV channels. The program would last 18 months and be budgeted at $700 million. Rep Rick Boucher (D-VA), who is expected to become the next chair of the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee, is also working on a similar bill in the House.

Updates

• Sanders Tosses Another DTV 'Lifeline'

Date