Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today signed on as a cosponsor of S. 2607. The purpose of the bill is to better facilitate the digital television transition for rural Americans. It would do so by making funds available sooner for digital upgrades to low-power television stations and translators in rural areas. The measure was originally sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).

 “This bill is vital to rural parts of our nation, including Alaska,” said Stevens. “It is important to ensure that rural America receives the same benefits of digital television as quickly as the nation's urban areas. Television in rural Alaska is not only entertainment, but also provides distance learning and important public safety announcements.”

Under current law, the Department of Commerce is directed to make payments for the low-power TV and translator upgrade program during fiscal year 2009. It is not mandated to disburse reimbursement payments until after October 2010, which is 20 months after the DTV Transition deadline of February 2009.

Stevens said the delay in reimbursements could slow the analog to digital upgrades of low-power TV stations and translators in rural areas. This bill would allow low-power television stations and translators to be reimbursed more quickly for analog-to-digital equipment upgrades.