The future is uncertain for legislation seeking a delay in the Fe...
The future is uncertain for legislation seeking a delay in the Feb. 17 analog cutoff, as House leaders have not formally decided to reconvene after the elections. The Senate plans a brief session, but unless the House goes along,…
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there will be no legislation passed. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called for the House to recess last week, rather than adjourn, which leaves the window open for it to reconvene. The Senate plans to move some land bills in a “brief” session starting Nov. 17, but for other business, “we will wait and see what, if anything, the House does,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. But support is strong among many members for legislation calling for a short-term delay of the Feb. 17 analog cutoff to allow public safety broadcasts. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., have proposed similar bills (S-3663, HR-7013) that would allow analog broadcasts of emergency information and include steps about how to get a converter box. Only stations that don’t have to vacate analog spectrum could take advantage of the delay. If Congress reconvenes, a bill (S-602) that would ask the FCC to study parental control technology could also pass, as it has widespread support. The Senate passed the measure, sponsored by Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., but the House amended it, so it needs another Senate vote.