Harman Releases Letter to FCC Chairman Decrying Failure to Focus Adequately on Digital TV Transition

HARMAN RELEASES LETTER TO FCC CHAIRMAN DECRYING FAILURE TO FOCUS ADEQUATELY ON DIGITAL TV TRANSITION

"Today's media ownership vote is a sad reminder that the FCC has lost its focus on the most important issue in its portfolio: the digital TV transition," said Representative Jane Harman (D-Venice), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications & the Internet, as the Federal Communications Commission voted to [lift] [uphold] the decades-old ban on cross-ownership - the ability to own a newspaper and radio or television station in the same media market.

"The February 2009 digital TV deadline looms," Harman added, "but the FCC has pushed aside urgent items on consumer education and broadcaster readiness to consider media ownership - an issue that deserves more deliberation and public comment. With the Tribune Company's waiver approved, what is Chairman Martin's rush?"

Below is a copy of a letter to FCC Chairman Martin sent by Harman last week, urging him to delay today's cross-ownership vote and criticizing the Commission's failure to focus on the February 17, 2009 digital television transition deadline:

December 13, 2007

Dear Chairman Martin:

During your appearance before the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee last week, I cautioned against rushing to revise the decades-old cross-ownership ban without adequate time for public comment. I remain convinced that so fundamental a change to our nation's media rules requires further deliberation.

But my primary concern - reinforced by the Government Accountability Office report filed yesterday - is that your rush to schedule action on media ownership is distracting the Commission's focus on the urgent issue of the Digital Television Transition.

At its December 18th meeting, the FCC is scheduled to vote on seven items. But the DTV Consumer Education Initiative and the Third Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television are not among them. The former, which has been on circulation for two months, is essential to informing the public about the implications of the transition. A DTV briefing I hosted in my district two weeks ago revealed an unacceptable lack of awareness about DTV, even among local government officials. The latter, which the Commission put out for public comment in May, lays the groundwork for infrastructure changes at over 600 broadcast stations across the country and is critical to broadcaster readiness.

The DTV transition is the single most important item in the Commission's portfolio. As I said at last week's hearing, if consumers and broadcasters are not prepared for February 17, 2009, then the debate over media ownership is meaningless. Consumers will not receive digital television signals nor will first responders receive desperately needed communications spectrum. I urge you to move quickly on these items to ensure a smooth and orderly DTV transition. Delaying the media ownership proceeding may be required.

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