jakncoke
01-26-2009, 10:37 PM
The Senate has approved legislation to delay the conversion to digital TV from Feb. 17 to June 12. The House could vote on similar legislation by the end of the week.
The extension would give consumers four more months to buy a digital television or converter box, or subscribe to a cable or satellite TV service. The Commerce Department also would have time to issue additional $40 coupons to offset the cost of converter boxes. The program ran out of money/coupons earlier this month, prompting a waiting list.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee takes up its bill tomorrow. President Obama endorses the delay.
Lawmakers say about 20 million U.S. households — mostly poor, elderly or rural — are not ready for the switch from over-the-air signals to digital. Broadcasters says the conversion will improve viewing quality and give public safety officials more spectrum.
Senate votes to delay digital TV switch to June - On Deadline - USATODAY.com (http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/01/senate-votes-to.html)
20 million seems quite high, seriously though delaying is a joke. Watch they delay again in mid may till the end of 2009.
The extension would give consumers four more months to buy a digital television or converter box, or subscribe to a cable or satellite TV service. The Commerce Department also would have time to issue additional $40 coupons to offset the cost of converter boxes. The program ran out of money/coupons earlier this month, prompting a waiting list.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee takes up its bill tomorrow. President Obama endorses the delay.
Lawmakers say about 20 million U.S. households — mostly poor, elderly or rural — are not ready for the switch from over-the-air signals to digital. Broadcasters says the conversion will improve viewing quality and give public safety officials more spectrum.
Senate votes to delay digital TV switch to June - On Deadline - USATODAY.com (http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/01/senate-votes-to.html)
20 million seems quite high, seriously though delaying is a joke. Watch they delay again in mid may till the end of 2009.