text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Digital Television Consumer 
  Education Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. CONSUMER EDUCATION.
  
      (a) Consumer Education Requirements.--Section 330 of the 
  Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 330) is amended--
              (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
              (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
          subsection:
      ``(d) Consumer Education Requirements Regarding Analog Receivers.--
              ``(1) Requirements for retailers.--Not later than 45 days 
          after the date of enactment of the Digital Television Consumer 
          Education Act of 2007--
                      ``(A) any retail distributor that displays for sale 
                  or rent any analog-only television sets shall place 
                  conspicuously in the vicinity of such television sets a 
                  sign containing, in clear and conspicuous print, the 
                  consumer alert described in paragraph (2); and
                      ``(B) any retail distributor that offers for sale 
                  or rent such television sets via direct mail, catalog, 
                  or electronic means shall prominently display in the 
                  vicinity of all advertisements or descriptions of such 
                  television sets, in clear and conspicuous print, the 
                  consumer alert described in paragraph (2).
              ``(2) Digital television transition information.--The 
          consumer alert required by this paragraph shall read as 
          follows:
                      ```consumer alert
                      ```This TV has only an analog broadcast tuner and 
                  will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, 
                  to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna 
                  because of the Nation's transition to digital 
                  broadcasting. The TV should continue to work as before 
                  with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, 
                  VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more 
                  information, call the Federal Communications Commission 
                  at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the 
                  Commission's digital television website at: 
                  www.dtv.gov.'.
              ``(3) MVPD outreach.--During the period beginning May 1, 
          2007, and ending February 17, 2009, each multichannel video 
          programming distributor (as such term is defined in section 602 
          of this Act) shall include a notice in any monthly or other 
          periodic bill that informs consumers of--
                      ``(A) the digital television transition; and
                      ``(B) the options consumers have after the 
                  transition to continue to receive broadcast 
                  programming, including over the air or through a 
                  multichannel video programming distribution service.
              ``(4) Broadcaster outreach.--During the period beginning on 
          May 1, 2007, and ending November 3, 2008, each full-power 
          commercial television broadcast licensee or permittee shall 
          file, at least once every 90 days, either individually or 
          jointly (such as through an association), a report with the 
          Commission indicating the steps each such licensee or permittee 
          has taken during the preceding 90 days, and any steps such 
          licensee or permittee plans to take in the 90 days following 
          the report, to inform consumers of the information described in 
          subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3). Each such report 
          shall indicate for each such licensee or permittee the time, 
          frequency, and content of any public service announcements 
          relating to the digital television transition that it has 
          aired, or that it has not aired any.
              ``(5) Penalty.--In addition to any other civil or criminal 
          penalty provided by law, the Commission may issue civil 
          forfeitures for violations of the requirements of this 
          subsection in an amount equal to not more than 3 times the 
          amount of the forfeiture penalty established by section 
          503(b)(2)(A).
              ``(6) Sunset.--The requirements of this subsection shall 
          cease to apply on December 1, 2009.
              ``(7) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection, the 
          term `analog-only television set' means any apparatus that--
                      ``(A) is designed to receive broadcast television 
                  signals;
                      ``(B) has an integrated display screen or is sold 
                  in a bundle with a display screen; and
                      ``(C) is not capable of receiving broadcast signals 
                  in the digital television service.''.
      (b) Commission Outreach.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
          enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission 
          shall establish and maintain a digital television transition 
          public outreach program. The Commission may seek the assistance 
          of private entities, such as broadcasters, manufacturers, 
          retailers, multichannel video programming distributors, and 
          consumer groups in administering the program. The digital 
          television transition public outreach program shall educate 
          consumers about--
                      (A) the digital television transition;
                      (B) the options consumers have after the transition 
                  to continue to receive broadcast programming, including 
                  over the air or through a multichannel video 
                  programming distribution service; and
                      (C) the converter-box program under section 3005 of 
                  the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act 
                  of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note).
              (2) Website.--The Commission shall maintain and publicize a 
          website, or an easily accessible page on its website, 
          containing the digital television transition public outreach 
          information required under paragraph (1), as well as any links 
          to other websites the Commission determines to be appropriate.
              (3) DTV working group on consumer outreach and 
          assistance.--
                      (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                  date of enactment of this Act, the Federal 
                  Communications Commission shall establish an advisory 
                  committee, to be known as the DTV Working Group, to 
                  consult with State and local governments, providers of 
                  low-income assistance programs, educational 
                  institutions, community groups, and the National 
                  Telecommunications and Information Administration to 
                  promote consumer outreach and assistance regarding the 
                  digital television transition and the converter-box 
                  program under section 3005 of the Digital Television 
                  Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 
                  note).
                      (B) Membership.--The Federal Communications 
                  Commission shall invite to participate in the DTV 
                  Working Group representatives of groups involved with 
                  the transition to digital television, including the 
                  Commission, the National Telecommunications and 
                  Information Administration, other relevant Federal 
                  agencies, commercial and noncommercial television 
                  broadcasters, multichannel video programming 
                  distributors, consumer electronics manufacturers and 
                  manufacturers of peripheral devices, broadcast antenna 
                  and tuner manufacturers, retail providers of consumer 
                  electronics equipment, consumer groups, and public 
                  interest groups (including the American Association of 
                  Retired Persons and the Seniors Coalition). Members of 
                  the DTV Working Group shall serve without compensation 
                  and shall not be considered Federal employees by reason 
                  of their service on the advisory committee.
                      (C) Purposes.--The purposes of the DTV Working 
                  Group are--
                              (i) to provide ongoing advice to the 
                          Federal Communications Commission in creating 
                          and implementing the public outreach program 
                          under this subsection;
                              (ii) to advise the Commission about the 
                          procedures of the public outreach program 
                          including, at a minimum, recommended procedures 
                          for public service announcements by 
                          broadcasters, toll-free information hotlines, 
                          and retail displays or notices; and
                              (iii) to provide to the Commission regular 
                          DTV Progress Reports that reflect ongoing and 
                          planned efforts by the private sector, both 
                          nationally and in individual television 
                          broadcast markets, to inform consumers about 
                          the digital television transition.
      (c) Converter-Box Energy Standards.--Section 3005 of the Digital 
  Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 
  note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
      ``(e) Converter-Box Energy Standards.--
              ``(1) Energy standards.--Not later than 90 days after the 
          date of enactment of the Digital Television Consumer Education 
          Act of 2007, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
          Communications and Information shall establish energy 
          consumption standards applicable to digital-to-analog converter 
          boxes (as defined in subsection (d)) in order for such boxes to 
          qualify for purchase with coupons made available under this 
          section.
              ``(2) Inapplicability.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
          of law, the standards described in paragraph (1) shall be the 
          exclusive energy consumption standards for converter boxes 
          manufactured or imported for use in the United States on and 
          after the effective date established by the Assistant Secretary 
          and until January 1, 2010.''.
  
  SEC. 3. PROGRESS REPORTS.
  
      (a) During the period beginning on June 1, 2007, and ending on 
  December 1, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission shall submit a 
  report, not less than once every 180 days, to the Committee on Energy 
  and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
  Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. Such reports shall 
  include information regarding--
              (1) the status of the Commission's international 
          coordination efforts with Canada and Mexico of the digital 
          television service table of allotments; and
              (2) the Commission's consumer education efforts, as well as 
          the consumer education efforts of broadcasters, multichannel 
          video programming distributors, consumer electronics 
          manufacturers, retailers, and consumer groups.
      (b) During the period beginning on April 1, 2008, and ending on 
  October 1, 2009, the Assistant Secretary of the National 
  Telecommunications and Information Administration shall submit a 
  report, not less than once every 90 days, to the Committee on Energy 
  and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
  Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate summarizing the 
  progress of coupon distribution and redemption under Section 3005 of 
  the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 
  U.S.C. 309 note), including--
              (1) the number of coupons distributed and redeemed;
              (2) the amount of time it takes for coupons to be 
          distributed and redeemed; and
              (3) the cost of the coupons and administrative costs, to 
          date.
target: Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require through December 1, 2009: (1) retail distributors that sell or rent televisions with analog receivers, including distributors that sell by direct mail or electronic means, to prominently display a specified consumer alert respecting digital television transition information; (2) multichannel video programming distributors to include specified transition information in consumer bills; and (3) full-power commercial television broadcast licensees or permittees to report at least quarterly to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) respecting transition education efforts to consumers.
  
  Authorizes the FCC to issue civil forfeitures for violations of such requirements.
  
  Requires the FCC to establish: (1) a digital television public outreach program, including FCC website information; and (2) the DTV Working Group to consult with state and local governments, providers of low-income assistance programs, educational institutions, community groups, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to promote consumer outreach regarding such transition and the converter-box program.
  
  Amends the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish energy consumption standards applicable to digital-to-analog converter boxes in order for such boxes to qualify for certain coupon purchases. States that such standards shall be the exclusive energy consumption standards for converter boxes manufactured or imported for use in the United States on and after the effective date established by the Assistant Secretary and until January 1, 2010.
feat_title: To further inform consumers about the transition to digital television.