Senator John McCain may be going the extra mile with the introduction of the Save Lives Act of 2005.

The senator's floor statement says the bill gives Congress a pathway to give public safety more spectrum.

"In addition to setting a date certain, this bill would authorize funds for public safety agencies to purchase emergency communications equipment and ensure that Congress has the ability to consider whether additional spectrum should be provided for public safety communications prior to the recovered spectrum being auctioned."

The January 1, 2009 transition date will also be helped by the bill's other aspects.

"The bill contains significant language concerning consumer education of the digital television transition. The bill would mandate that warning labels be displayed on analog television sets sold prior to the transition, require warning language to be displayed at television retailers, command the distribution at retailers of brochures describing the television set options available, and call on broadcasters to air informational programs to better prepare consumers for the digital transition."