Parties Find Compromise On Stimulus Package

Bill Keeps $650 Million For DTV Converter Box Coupon Program

John Eggerton -- Multichannel News, 2/11/2009 8:22:26 PM

Conferencing Democrats and Republicans have come to terms on a compromise stimulus bill.

That means the DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program is one step closer to getting the money it needs to start the subsidy money flowing again. The bill has $650 million for the coupon program, including some transition money the FCC says it will need to administer the change of the date from Feb. 17 to June 12. The change was spurred in part by the slowdown in that program due to the lack of access to funds.
The compromise also means billions of dollars in grants and tax incentives for the buildout of broadband, at least once the bill is passed.
According to Public Knowledge, the compromise bill contains open network, interconnection and nondiscrimination providions attached to the grant money, which will be distributed by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, with some help from the FCC in defining who qualifies for the money.
"The open network requirements were necessary because the public deserves benefits from the large sums of public money that will be distributed," said Public Knowledge president Gigi Sohn. "We are pleased that Congress has taken the fundamental step of recognizing that open networks will help to create jobs and to stimulate economic activity in areas that are now unserved with broadband service."

Talkback

» Submit Feedback

• A compromise indicates concessions between both sides. Three Republicans voted in favor of a bill which had no concessions. That isn't compromise.

  
  John Bauers - 2/12/2009 2:50:09 AM EST
» Submit Feedback

Related Content

• Topics
• Author

Kudos Roll In For Genachowski, McDowell FCC Confirmations

06/26/2009

Sohn On Broadband: Government Should Learn How To Share

10/09/2009

Public Knowledge, Free Press Underwhelmed By FCC Broadband Policy Outline

12/16/2009

FCC: Forbearance Or for Worse

06/20/2010

Public Knowledge Launches Campaign For Net Neutrality

08/09/2010

Also by this author

• Hallmark Ready To Resume Negotiations

• Union Membership: How Tweet It Is

• FCC and Title II: All Options Said To Be Still On Table

• Kerry On Net Neutrality Debate: Take a Deep Breath

• FCC: Dish Network Can Deliver Distant Signals

More >>>

• Resource Center
• Browse Categories
• Browse Companies

Featured Company

• Digital Rapids

  

  Digital Rapids is the leading provider of professional hardware and software tools, technology and expertise for bringing video to wider audiences and new viewing platforms. Continuing to set new standards in quality, productivity and versatility, our solutions span the critical ..more

---

Most Recent Resources

• The Local Origination/Leased Access Metamorphosis
• Multi Format Encoding for Efficient Content Repurposing
• The CIOs Guide to Videoconferencing Security Keeping Pace with th..
• Robust Encoding, Transcoding and Streaming Systems – Critical B..
• Fixing The Annual Rate Adjustment Planning & Execution Process