Archived - 109th Congress

FCC seeks more comment on airwaves auction

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 26, 2007 - 10:18am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:56am

The Federal Communications Commission decided on Wednesday to seek more public comment on how the sale of valuable wireless airwaves will work, a move that could delay the start of the auction.

Feb. 17, 2009, on Boucherâ€™s Mind

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 19, 2007 - 7:12am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:48am

Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) became the latest voice to raise concerns about the upcoming transition to digital TV Feb. 17, 2009.

Martin Asks Congress For DTV Education Money

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 18, 2007 - 9:10am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:46am

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin made his pitch to a House Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday for $1.5 million for a DTV education campaign.

TWC Clarifies Testimony

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 30, 2007 - 7:01am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:32am

A Time Warner Cable official said Thursday that subscribers who buy just the basic tier and lease an HD set-top box have free access to local TV signals in HD, clarifying CEO Glenn Brittâ€™s testimony before a House subcommittee the previous day.

Lawmakers back keeping 2009 digital TV date

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 29, 2007 - 8:36am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:31am

The switch to digital television from analog should not be delayed because it is critical that emergency services have access to freed-up airwaves to communicate, members of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee said at a hearing on Wednesday.

Millions May Miss Digital TV Deadline

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 28, 2007 - 8:44am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:29am

For millions of Americans, the digital revolution might not be televised. One in 5 U.S. households depends on rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna to watch TV. Without converter boxes, most of their sets will go blank the day in 2009 that federal law requires broadcast stations to turn off analog signals and transmit only in digital.

Let's Get Started on DTV

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 27, 2007 - 7:17am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:27am

The biggest problem with the transition to digital television in the United States is that the Federal Communications Commission under the Bush administration has locked the public out of the process of determining what the benefits of the transition might be.

Shapiro Cites DTV "Fear-mongering"

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 27, 2007 - 7:11am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:27am

Suggesting there was some"fear-mongering" about the transition to digital, Consumer Electronics Association President Gary Shapiro said on Monday that "consumers do not demand these [digital-to-analog converter] boxes as much as some people think they will."

Hot Spectrum Draws Cash, and Ideals

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 26, 2007 - 7:20am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 5:26am

It is referred to as the last beachfront property in the wireless world -- a prized swath of spectrum that is about to be sold at federal auction. And it has touched off an intense lobbying effort pitting cellular companies against a variety of new players interested in the potential of a next-generation mobile Internet.

Hearing: Status of the Digital Television Transition

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 25, 2007 - 10:52am
Last updated: February 25, 2008 - 5:44pm

Mar 28 2007 - 10:00am - Mar 28 2007 - 1:00pm

Status of the Digital Television Transition
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
10:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building