NAB Applauds Senate Passage of Digital TV Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Association of Broadcasters today applauded Senate passage of legislation granting stations the ability to voluntarily broadcast in analog format a digital TV informational message or emergency information in the days following the DTV transition on February 17, 2009. The “Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act” (S. 3663), introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), was approved today in the Senate by unanimous consent.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA). Last month, the NAB Television Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution to support both bills.

Commenting on the Senate action, NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton issued the following statement:

“Coupled with our billion dollar campaign to educate Americans on the digital TV transition, this timely legislation will give broadcasters one final resource to ensure that no TV viewer is left behind due to insufficient information. We applaud Sen. Rockefeller and his colleagues, and encourage House lawmakers to adopt similar legislation offered by Rep. Capps.”