Washington, D.C.-- Congressman Eliot Engel reintroduced his legislation which would require additional consumer education about the upcoming February 17, 2009 transition from analog to digital television. It would also provide an additional $200 million into the program to supply vouchers for citizens in need of digital converter boxes.

In response to the funding shortfall in the converter box coupon program, his legislation - the Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2009 (H.R. 299) - includes an additional $200 million for consumers to receive $40 coupons to purchase digital converter boxes. This month, the United States Department of Commerce announced the program was out of funding and were putting consumers on a waiting list for coupons. This funding would allow everybody on the waiting list to receive their coupon, and would provide a cushion of support for future coupon requests.

“It is unfortunate that Congress has to act now to put more money back into this program, but we must accommodate the millions of people that are now on a waiting list,” said Rep. Engel. “We do not want to have people turn on their sets on February 17 and find nothing but static.”

His legislation would also authorize $20 million to be spent on consumer outreach. This bill will help to ensure that everyone who owns an analog television understands the details of the DTV transition.

On February 17, TV broadcasters will cease analog broadcasting and only transmit in digital. On that date, anyone who relies on over-the-air broadcasts will need a set-top box to receive and convert digital TV signals in order for their analog TV to continue to work.

The benefits of transitioning to digital TV signals are enormous, most importantly opening up desperately needed spectrum for first responders, allowing Fire, Police and EMS personnel to have interoperable radio equipment to communicate with each other in emergencies. “The additional funding will complement the $1 billion in Department of Homeland Security grants that I was able to secure in 2005 for first responder communications interoperability to qualified applicants from anticipated spectrum receipts,” said Rep. Engel.

Last year, Congressman Engel wrote to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to enable nursing home residents to be eligible to receive the coupons. As a result, over 6,000 people in the 17th District of New York – covering parts of Rockland, Westchester and Bronx Counties – were able to receive assistance.

Rep. Engel added, “The coupon program was designed to help those in the most need to afford the converter boxes and not be inconvenienced by this necessary transition. By previously including nursing home residents and by adding much needed funds now, we will be able to make sure that boxes are put on the sets of everyone who needs them.”

Due to other business facing the previous Congress, no vote was held on this legislation and it was not considered before the close of the 110th Congress. For further information on the DTV process, and to determine if you need a converter box, visit the transition website at www.dtv2009.gov.