Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) is all for getting on with the DTV transition and putting spectrum currently supporting side-by-side analog and digital TV transmission to other uses. Besides getting spectrum to first responders, he wants to give innovative uses such as wireless broadband a chance to expand. He also indicated a willingness to allow telcos into the video distribution business, citing consumer benefits whenever competition is allowed to flourish. Kerry was speaking at a Capitol Hill session on telecommunications policy hosted by The New Republic.

RBR observation:
The first signs of pressure to bring the DTV transition to completion came from Republicans. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been a long-time advocate, and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), chair of the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has also been a loud proponent. In Barton's case, it seemed to be all his colleagues could do to slow him down to a reasonable real life timetable. What is notable is the complete lack of Democratic opposition to the current timetable, geared to a 12/31/08 deadline. With almost no opposition, it is looking more and more like the real thing.

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Kerry's excerpted comments

"We also must foster a marketplace driven by intense competition between and among technologies, companies and other stakeholders. Wireless broadband is a good example of both a new competitor and innovator. It's time to open a platform for innovative technologies like this to compete with new services and bring down prices. Congress must complete the DTV transition, free up the 700 MegaHertz band, and allow competition to flourish. In addition, several Bell companies have recently announced their intent to offer video programming using broadband platforms. Efforts are already underway in Massachusetts. This decision provides a promise of enhanced competition in the video market. Competition means better consumer choice and competitive pricing. We should encourage that development, and seek balance between competing interests. We also need to be more supportive of innovation. The DTV debate provides an opportunity. We know that a dozen nations are ahead of us in the deployment of high-speed Internet service. We can free Spectrum as part of the DTV transition to unleash new wireless technologies. Why not let the established firms, municipalities, entrepreneurs and innovators take that analog spectrum to develop advanced wireless technologies? Allowing a piece of that Spectrum to operate without license should be explored. These are the kind of options we have to consider. As long as we keep the long-term interests of the American people at heart, and avoid getting weighed down by inter-industry spats - we will have served the American people well. I'm confident if we look at our communications policy through the lens of the American consumer-the firefighter, police officer or EMT responding to an emergency-the entrepreneur with a revolutionary idea-or the well-intentioned business-we will get it right."