Domenici joins sanity coalition

0

Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) has fired off a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin (R) asking that any plans to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the white spaces between television stations be put aside. "I am concerned about the ability to regulate or remedy this problem without time for more rigorous research, study and analysis," said Domenici. "Interference from personal and portable devices would also be particularly troublesome to my constituents in New Mexico who have recently purchased digital television sets or who plan to receive government subsidized digital-to-analog converter boxes."


The NAB has been tracking the Congressional effort to hold off any further action on this front. Domenici becomes the eighth senator to express reservations, joining Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME). And just in case anyone were to identify this as a Republican cause, 48 members of the House have also expressed reservations, including 25 Democrats and 23 Republicans.