Powell To Exit Quietly With No DTV Vote

    FCC Chairman Michael Powell won't seek a vote on his DTV plan, letting Congress deal with it.
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    Bloomberg has reported that FCC Chairman Michael Powell won't seek a vote on his DTV plan, letting Congress deal with it.

    As we reported in the February issue of DigitalTV magazine, House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) has said he planned to introduce legislation to impose a December 2006 cutoff for broadcasters to switch. Powell, who is leaving the FCC this month, had proposed a 2009 digital switch.

    While broadcasters have feared losing the 15% of viewers who receive television via over-the-air,
    public safety groups want the spectrum freed for emergency services.

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