STATEMENT OF 
CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN
Re:  Third Periodic Review of the Commission’s Rules and Policies Affecting the 
Conversion to Digital Television.
Today we take another important step toward facilitating a timely digital 
transition.  Facilitating a smooth transition, however, is not an easy task.  With this Order, 
the Commission has made technical adjustments to its rules and policies to enable 
broadcasters to take the actions necessary to complete the conversion from analog to 
digital.  As all major changes tend to be, the coming transition to digital television 
transmission is an exciting—but complicated—revolution.  The rules we adopt in this 
item attempt to provide broadcasters the flexibility they need while at the same time 
ensuring that any disruption to over-the-air viewers is minimized to the fullest extent 
possible.  
Importantly, the Commission’s oversight over this process does not end here.  We 
require broadcasters to update us on their progress toward meeting their statutory 
deadline for the transition.  Such reports must be filed in February 2008 and October 
2008.  The Commission will review this information, assess the progress toward meeting 
the transition, and take whatever actions are necessary to ensure that the digital transition 
remains on track.  It is by taking concrete steps to advance this transition that we can 
ensure that the broadcast spectrum is made available as soon as possible for critically 
important public safety needs and broadband wireless uses.  We are committed to making 
the digital transition proceed as swiftly and smoothly as possible.