S 3242 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To suspend temporarily the duty on digital-to-analog converter boxes, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 10 (legislative day, July 9), 2008CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself and Mr. ROBERTS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To suspend temporarily the duty on digital-to-analog converter boxes, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Digital Television Transition Consumer Relief Act of 2008’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY DUTY SUSPENSION AND RELIQUIDATION OF CERTAIN DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER BOXES AND TELEVISION TUNERS.

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171) provided that all full power television broadcasts be switched to digital format on February 17, 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Nearly 20,000,000 United States consumers do not subscribe to cable or satellite television service and millions more have untethered television sets that only receive over-the-air signals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Upon the conversion to the digital format mandated by Congress, these households will no longer receive any television signal unless they are equipped with digital-to-analog converters.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Low and middle income families, rural residents, American Indians, senior citizens, the infirmed and the physically and mentally impaired are less likely to own television sets capable of receiving a digital signal without the purchase of digital-to-analog converters.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The conversion to an all digital format should not place an unfair economic burden on those families of the United States least able to afford it.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is collecting an import tax, or duty, on converter boxes, which adds to the costs of converting to receiving a digital signal.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the costs to convert to an all digital format should be affordable for all people of the United States, and especially those of lower incomes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definition of Digital-to-Analog Converter Box- The U.S. Notes at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘20. For purposes of headings 9902.85.28 and 9902.85.29, the term ‘digital-to-analog converter box’ means a stand-alone device that does not contain features or functions except those necessary to enable a consumer to convert any channel broadcast in the digital television service into a format that the consumer can display on television receivers designed to receive and display signals only in the analog television service, but may also include a remote control device.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Temporary Duty Suspensions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER BOXES- Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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‘ 9902.85.28 Digital-to-analog converter boxes (provided for in subheading 8528.71.40) Free No change No change On or before 12/31/2009 ’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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(2) CERTAIN TELEVISION TUNERS- Such subchapter is further amended by inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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‘ 9902.85.29 Television tuners used in the United States assembly of digital-to-analog converter boxes (provided for in subheading 8529.90.29) Free No change No change On or before 12/31/2009 ’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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(e) Retroactive Effective Date- The amendments made by subsection (d) apply to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after December 1, 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Reliquidation of Entries-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law and subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall, not later than 90 days after the receipt of a request described in paragraph (2), liquidate or reliquidate as applicable any entry described in paragraph (4) at the applicable rate under subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, as amended by subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REQUESTS- Liquidation or reliquidation may be made under paragraph (1) with respect to an entry described in paragraph (4) only if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) a request therefore is filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the request contains sufficient information to enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection to locate the entry or reconciliation entry if it cannot be located.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PAYMENT OF AMOUNTS OWED- Any amounts owed by the United States pursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of any entry under paragraph (1) shall be paid, with interest, not later than 180 days after the date of such liquidation or reliquidation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) ENTRIES DESCRIBED- The entries referred to in paragraph (1) are the entries, or withdrawals from warehouse for consumption, of goods to which duty-free treatment is provided by subsections (d) and (e)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) that was made on or after December 1, 2007; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) with respect to which there would have been no duty if subsection (d) of this Act had applied to such entry or withdrawal.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink