Ralph Hall: “I rise in objection to this amendment. To permit a digital spectrum auction, as this amendment does, would absolutely…”

“I rise in objection to this amendment. To permit a digital spectrum auction, as this amendment does, would absolutely disrupt the economics of the broadcast industry and would make it, I think, impossible for broadcasters to continue to offer free television to American viewers. The burden would fall heaviest on the middle- and lower- income classes. I think we have to allow broadcasters to make the transition to digital without any spectrum auction because the financial burden of an auction plus as much as $8 to $10 million of additional hardware cost to digital could kill a broadcast station. Of course, we are talking about a compact between broadcasters and the public, as Mr. Dingell said, dating back 60 years. Killing local television means destroying a major lifeline for many. It would mean the end to a part of the American culture. I oppose the amendment.”