House Panel Investigates Progress on DTV Front

The House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet held a hearing titled, "Oversight of the Digital Television Transition" on Thursday. A good time was had by all. The hearing examined the administration of the DTV Converter Box Coupon Program by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), outreach and consumer education efforts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the status of the transition from the perspective of other stakeholders. Approximately 4 million households are still not prepared for the transition, lawmakers heard. Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) praised the NTIA for clearing up a long-waiting list for DTV coupons, but he also expressed concern that the nation could run out of converter boxes. "I do share (the) concern about whether inventory levels will be sufficient," NTIA's Anna Gomez said. While the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) estimates that there will be an additional 4.2 million converter boxes needed by June 12, there are currently about 9.3 million coupons in circulation. Even if the percentage of coupons cashed in continues at the current rate of about 60 percent, about 5.5 million converter boxes will be needed. Both Members of Congress and regulators raised concerns about signal reception issues. FCC Chairman Michael Copps said the Commission was working on implementing programs to help broadcasters fill in coverage gaps, but that took time and money, both of which were in short supply. The FCC will at least have some more money to bolster call centers and for education and outreach to help inform viewers of potential signal losses no matter what steps they take to prepare.