Posted by madcityradio.com on February 04, 2009 at 20:05:59:
In Reply to: The Final word: Bill to delay digital TV switch passes posted by Unbelievable on February 04, 2009 at 15:56:43:
House OK means DTV transition delay all but certain
by Jeff Richgels | 77 Square | February 4, 2009
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The House on Wednesday voted 264-158 to postpone the transition of broadcast TV from digital to analog from Feb. 17 to June 12, all but assuring that the delay will happen.
The Senate passed the measure unanimously last week and the bill now heads to President Barack Obama, who supports the delay, for his signature.
The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not ready.
Those with analog TVs and no subscription TV service (such as cable or satellite) need a converter box when broadcast TV goes digital.
The government was providing two $40 coupons per household "“ the boxes generally cost from $40 to 60 "“ but problems with the program meant not everyone who wanted coupons and boxes could get them by Feb. 17.
The bill allows households with expired coupons to reapply for them.
Barry Orton, a UW-Madison professor of telecommunications, months ago predicted there would be a delay and on Wednesday said he wasn't surprised that it finally happened.
"At least now folks who have to put up a completely new antenna in Wisconsin have until the snow melts," Orton quipped.
Because digital signals are different than analog signals some people may have need to adjust their antennas, move them or get new ones, as I blogged about last August.
"The bad news," Orton said, "is that broadcasters will be using a lot more electricity doing both (analog and digital) until June. It's not a green decision."