A bill requiring better coordination among the FCC, NTIA and othe...
A bill requiring better coordination among the FCC, NTIA and other agencies on DTV education was introduced late Tuesday by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. SB-2125 fulfils Kohl’s promise at a hearing by the Senate Special Committee on Aging, which…
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he chairs, to deal with what he called a lack of educational oversight (CD Sept 20 p2). The Preparing America’s Seniors for the Digital Television Transition Act has no co-sponsors, Kohl’s spokeswoman said. It calls for a federal task force made up of the FCC, NTIA and U.S. Administration on Aging to find ways to help seniors install digital converter boxes. The bill would tweak NTIA’s $1.5 billion converter box program by extending the life of $40 coupons to four months from three. It would give “priority consideration” to coupon-seekers who don’t subscribe to pay TV. The $1 billion first round of NTIA’s program is open to all households. The bill would extend eligibility for coupons to residents of nursing home and similar. Broadcasters would have to air at least a minute daily of public service ads on the transition, at least 30 seconds 5 to 11 p.m. Every cable operator and satellite provider would have to “develop a plan on how to notify subscribers about the transition and any associated costs,” according to a summary of the bill. Converter box makers would have to operate toll-free phone numbers to inform callers about installation. FCC fines levied against retailers found violating analog set labeling rules would help pay for the task force.