DTV Delay Act
Public Law 111-4 · S. 352 · 111th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Feb 11, 2009 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
Cosponsors (10): Sen. Kay Hutchison, Sen. John Kerry,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 264 yea, 158 nay264–158
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
DTV Delay Act - Amends the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to delay the transition of television broadcasting from analog to digital to June 13, 2009. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend for a 116-day period the licenses for recovered spectrum, including the license period and construction requirements associated with those licenses.
Extends to July 31, 2009, provided additional budget authority is enacted, the deadline for requesting digital-to-analog converter box coupons. Authorizes the issuance, on request, of one replacement coupon for each coupon that expired without being redeemed.
Declares that this Act does not prevent: (1) a station from ending analog broadcasting (and continuing to broadcast exclusively digitally) before June 13, 2009; or (2) a public safety service from beginning operations on spectrum recovered as a result of such voluntary cessation of analog or digital broadcasting.
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to extend through September 30, 2012 (under current law, September 30, 2011), the authority of the FCC to grant a license or permit under provisions relating to competitive bidding.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 111th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 264 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
264 yea158 nay10 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(240)
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Hilda SolisD-CA-32
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Phil HareD-IL-17
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Albio SiresD-NJ-13
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Jared PolisD-CO-2
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Steve KagenD-WI-8
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Alan GraysonD-FL-8
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Charles WilsonD-OH-6
Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Carol Shea-PorterD-NH-1
Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
Rep. John HallD-NY-19
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Mary Jo KilroyD-OH-15
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-23
Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
Rep. John SalazarD-CO-3
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Joe SestakD-PA-7
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Ron KleinD-FL-22
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Kurt SchraderD-OR-5
Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Patrick MurphyD-PA-8
Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. Daniel MaffeiD-NY-25
Rep. Dina TitusD-NV-3
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. Mark SchauerD-MI-7
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Paul HodesD-NH-2
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20- Rep. Eric MassaD-NY-29
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Jim HimesD-CT-4
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Betsy MarkeyD-CO-4
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Steve DriehausD-OH-1
Rep. Deborah HalvorsonD-IL-11
Rep. John BoccieriD-OH-16
Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
Rep. Kathleen DahlkemperD-PA-3
Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
Rep. Bill FosterD-IL-14
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Rep. Michael ArcuriD-NY-24
Rep. Suzanne KosmasD-FL-24
Rep. Zack SpaceD-OH-18
Rep. Michael McMahonD-NY-13
Rep. Christopher CarneyD-PA-10
Rep. Harry TeagueD-NM-2
Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-8
Rep. Thomas PerrielloD-VA-5
Rep. Dan BorenD-OK-2
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Brad EllsworthD-IN-8
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsD-AZ-8
Rep. Ann KirkpatrickD-AZ-1
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. Frank KratovilD-MD-1
Rep. Glenn NyeD-VA-2
Rep. Travis ChildersD-MS-1
Rep. Harry MitchellD-AZ-5
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
Rep. Bobby BrightD-AL-2
Rep. Walter MinnickD-ID-1
Republicans who voted yea(24)
Rep. Joseph CaoR-LA-2
Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-25
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Parker GriffithD-AL-5
Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-15
Rep. Phil RoeR-TN-1
Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Tom McClintockR-CA-4
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 51 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
2 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.Res. 108Procedurally-related
Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 352) to postpone the DTV transition date.
S. 328Related bill
DTV Delay Act
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.
- Feb 11, 2009Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 111-4.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Feb 9, 2009FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Feb 4, 2009FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 264 - 158 (Roll no. 52).House roll call 52
- FloorFloor · On motion to commit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 180 - 242 (Roll no. 51).House roll call 51
- FloorFloor · The previous question on the motion to commit with instructions was ordered without objection.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Barton(TX) motion to commit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House adding a new section pertaining to Clearance of Public Safety Spectrum,…
- FloorFloor · Mr. Barton (TX) moved to commit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 352.
- FloorFloor · Rule provides for consideration of S. 352 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
- FloorFloor · Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 108.
- FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 108 passed House.
- OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
- Feb 3, 2009FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 108 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 352 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
- Feb 2, 2009FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- Jan 30, 2009FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jan 29, 2009FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.