TV Consumer Choice Act of 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 28, 2003

TV Consumer Choice Act of 2003 - Prohibits specified provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 from being construed to authorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require, or prescribe any schedule for the implementation of, digital television reception capability in television broadcast reception equipment.States that the requirements and schedule established by FCC regulation for the implementation of such capability in such equipment shall not be effective except as expressly hereafter provided by Act of Congress.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · R–WI

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 3, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
Jan 28, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 28, 2003
Introduced in House
Jan 28, 2003
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 28, 2003 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.426 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.426, 108th Congress: TV Consumer Choice Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/426

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr426/BILLS-108hr426ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.426 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.426 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.426, 108th Congress: TV Consumer Choice Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/426

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr426/BILLS-108hr426ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.426 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.426 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.426, 108th Congress: TV Consumer Choice Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/426

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr426/BILLS-108hr426ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.426 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.426 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.426, 108th Congress: TV Consumer Choice Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/426

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr426/BILLS-108hr426ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-18T19:01:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.426 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.