Debbie Dingell: “Mr. Chairman, I begin by expressing great respect and affection for my good friend from Massachusetts, Mr. Frank. I have…”

“Mr. Chairman, I begin by expressing great respect and affection for my good friend from Massachusetts, Mr. Frank. I have the most enormous regard for him. I would observe, however, that on this matter both he and Mr. Dole are dead wrong, and I would like to explain why. First of all, I would point out that we have had this matter before the body for consideration on a number of occasions. It was debated on the floor last August, when the telecommunications bill was considered by the House. It was debated again in January when the House considered the conference report. And language similar to that which is offered by my good friend from Massachusetts was overwhelmingly rejected by the Congress. Now, why? The gentleman claims this is a giveaway. Nothing is further from the truth. The FCC and the broadcast industry are attempting to bring forward new technology of value to this country, high definition television, and to do so by lending to the broadcasters an additional channel. This will enable us to make the shift from current technology, using old-fashioned analog technology, to the new digital technologies which will afford this country the best and the highest quality television in the world. At the conclusion of that, the loan of the additional spectrum will have to be returned.”