Digital Television Transition and Public Safety
Background Information

The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (S. 1932/Public Law 109-171 Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, February 8, 2006; Stat. 4: 181 pages) authorizes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer several programs. Administration of the programs will be funded through the proceeds from the auction of recovered analog spectrum in June 2008. The Act gives NTIA borrowing authority in order to begin some programs in Fiscal Year 2007. Funding for other programs will not be available until after the spectrum is auctioned in 2008. The Act also prescribes specific dates for the release of funds from each program.

Programs authorized to begin in Fiscal Year 2007 include:

• Digital-to-Analog Converter,
• Public Safety Interoperable Communications,
• NYC 9/11 Digital Transition, and
• Low Power Television and Translator Digital-to-Analog Conversion.

Programs authorized to begin after auction proceeds are available after June 30, 2008, include:

• Low Power Television and Translator Upgrade
• National Alert and Tsunami Warning Program, and
• Enhance 911.

NTIA will be conducting rule makings and other required administrative proceedings in order to establish the programs as directed by the Act. Notices of these actions and other information related to these programs will be posted on this web site.

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S. 1932), with Title III. Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, full transcript, signed into law by President George W. Bush on February 8, 2006.

Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate, October 24, 2005 (Acrobat PDF version)

Senate Approves Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act Title in Budget Reconciliation Conference Report, press release, U.S. Senate Commitee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, December 21, 2005

Senate Approves Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, press release, U.S. Senate Commitee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, November 3, 2005