DTV Transition Assistance Act

Floor Speech

I thank the gentleman so much for giving me the time to speak on this important bill.

The digital television transition is now 223 days away and many of our constituents are simply not prepared. I'm especially concerned about our most vulnerable population, our seniors. Eight million older Americans are in risk of losing their television reception on February 17, 2009.

I've been pleased to work with a number of groups that work directly with seniors, including the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the AARP, and the National Council on Aging, to ensure that older Americans are not left in the dark.

In May, Representative G.K. Butterfield joined me and 21 of our colleagues in sending a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration regarding this imminent problem, and I'm pleased that the bill before us today would take some of the necessary steps to ensuring that seniors are prepared.

Seniors could suffer real consequences if their TVs do not operate past February 17, 2009, including isolation from society, anxiety, or mental and physical decline. Imagine your parents or grandparents going to turn on the television on February 18 and finding nothing on the screen.

Also, we have to remember that there are hundreds and thousands of homebound seniors who are unable to go and buy a converter box. Many seniors face considerable physical challenges associated with the transition, and without people to help come in their homes and install these boxes, they're just going to be out of luck. And those seniors that have gotten the converter box may face real technological barriers. Most people have problems setting the clock on their VCRs. I have zeros blinking myself occasionally. Think about the challenge of looking at a converter box and trying to figure out what to do next.

That's why I rise in support of this bill. This legislation will free up funds not being used by the NTIA in the distribution of coupons so they can be used for consumer education and technical assistance.

It further directs NTIA to partner with, provide grants to, and contract with nonprofit organizations and public interest groups to provide for educational and technical assistance to seniors, rural residents, and others who may face difficulties with the digital transition.

Despite these efforts, there are sure to be people who we don't reach and who wake up on February 18 with no signal. I look forward to working with my colleagues to establish any future
funding needed to ensure that these individuals receive needed assistance.

Again, we're 223 days away from the digital television transition. I urge all of my colleagues to work to ensure that our constituents are aware of and prepared for the coming transition.

I want to thank the leadership for bringing this crucial bill to the floor quickly.

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