Sensenbrenner bill seeks to block DTV tuner transition

[Gregg Lengling]

Communications Daily...01/30/2003

Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), chmn. of Judiciary Committee, introduced bill that would prohibit FCC from enforcing its order to require that DTV tuners be installed in all TVs by 2007, but House sources said it was very unlikely to gain momentum. Citing costs of digital tuners, Sensenbrenner said FCC order was in essence "TV tax."

Bill (HR-426) is co-sponsored by Reps. Miller (R-Fla.), Cox (R-Cal.), Paul (R-Tex.) and Frank (D-Mass.) and is similar to one Sensenbrenner introduced late last session, HR-5685. However, bill was referred to House Commerce Committee, where Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) has taken great interest in DTV transition and held hearing on subject last session. Cox is only bill sponsor who's member of Commerce Committee.

Commerce Committee spokesman Ken Johnson said bill was likely to be nonstarter. "Given the fact that the legislation would kill the transition to digital television, it's a safe bet the committee will tune it out," he said. Tauzin circulated draft DTV bill at end of session last year that he said had prompted some industry agreements on DTV transition controversies. Draft bill included language that would codify FCC rulemaking into law requiring DTV tuners.

Tauzin said price of digital tuner was likely to be one of 5 or 10 controversial issues Commerce Committee would have to address in DTV transition. At this point, committee still is monitoring industry negotiations and Tauzin said he had heard "good reports." But he said there could be need for legislation in areas where there were no agreements. And while he hadn't set deadline for industry, he did say committee was likely to need to address issue before Aug.

In "Dear Colleague" letter Jan. 8, Sensenbrenner cited CEA estimates that DTV tuner would increase cost of TVs by $250. "When you consider that 28 million TV sets are sold each year, this mandate could amount to a $7 billion tax on Americans," letter said. Sensenbrenner said marketplace should decide "which technologies are necessary for consumers." Since FCC order is set to take effect in 2004 for 36" TVs, he stressed urgency for action. But Johnson said bill didn't take into account benefits of DTV transition, such as release of 6 MHz of analog broadcast spectrum. He also said price estimate of $250 per TV was "grossly exaggerated" and failed to take into account lower prices that result from mass production.

[mcq]

Is this worth a letter campaign to Jim!?

[ReesR]

I wrote a rather lengthy letter to him last year.  He didn't have the courtesy to respond.

Rees