Chris Sununu: “To speak in favor of the amendment, which I cosponsor. Mr. President, I rise in support of this amendment which moves…”

“To speak in favor of the amendment, which I cosponsor. Mr. President, I rise in support of this amendment which moves the date for returning spectrum that was allocated for the transition to digital television ahead by 1 year. So instead of that spectrum being returned to the Federal Government for use for other purposes in April of 2009, it will be returned in April of 2008. I think this makes sense for a number of reasons. First, it moves forward this process of transition. We are technologically able to make this transition. Many, if not most, of the facilities across the country are on a timetable to retrofit their equipment so they can broadcast using the digital standards. It would certainly bring revenue to the Federal Government, the American taxpayers sooner because this spectrum that is available for auction could be auctioned earlier and then put into the public domain used for new technologies, new products, for consumer safety, and that would certainly benefit consumers. But it also provides a very real benefit to public safety because moving this timeframe up by 1 year would ultimately make the portion of the spectrum, about 20 percent of the entire spectrum coming back, available for use for public safety sooner. I am sure this is a point that was strongly emphasized by Senator McCain in his remarks.…”