The House of Representatives yesterday voted to delay the transition from analog to digital television by four months. The new deadline is most likely June 12, 2009. The Senate already passed a similar vote last week and President Obama has signaled support for a bill. White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said on Wednesday that “the passage of this bipartisan legislation means that millions of Americans will have the time they need to prepare for the conversion.”
Lack of funding for the program to distribute $40 coupons to offset the cost of converter boxes, as well as continued consumer confusion, prompted Congress to vote for a delay.
The coupon program is run by The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which hit its $1.34 billion funding limit last month after sending out more than 47 million coupons. Requests for more than 3.7 Million more coupons from people on a newly created waiting list have yet to be fulfilled.
From the NTIA press release:
“The DTV Delay Act is good for the American people. It acknowledges the need for more time so we can give the American consumers the assistance they need to acquire coupons and the importance of giving the public safety community access to additional spectrum to improve communications,” said Acting NTIA Administrator Anna Gomez. “If NTIA receives additional budget authority for the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, our first priority will be to provide coupons for those households currently on the waiting list, as well as maximize further distribution of coupons.”
DTV Readiness Map
Despite months of preparation, the delay seems necessary. According to a Nielsen Company survey 6.5 Million Americans are not, or only partially, ready for the switchover. Disproportionally affected, according to the survey, are communities of color and older citizens.
Broadcasters were scheduled to discontinue their analog broadcasts on February 17, 2009, a measure intended to free up airwaves for public safety agencies and providers of wireless services. Consumers receiving TV signals over the air with so-called “rabbit ears” will have to either buy a new TV set or upgrade their old TV with a converter box to continue receiving the broadcasts they are used to.
