Obama, Lawmakers Weighing Digital TV Delay
Friday, January 9, 2009 10:10Concern is growing that the nation is not ready for next month’s transition.
President-elect Barack Obama and key congressional lawmakers are reportedly considering delaying next month’s Digital TV transition.
On February 17, 2009, full-powered local TV stations are scheduled to switch their signals from analog to digital, meaning viewers will need to get a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV service to keep watching television.
But concerns are growing that millions of consumers will not be ready when the transition occurs. The Consumer Union, a non-profit advocacy group, yesterday sent a letter to Obama, President Bush and key lawmakers, urging them to postpone the transition.
Among other concerns, the group noted that the federal government has run out of funds to distribute $40 coupons for digital converter boxes.
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee, and one of the recipients of the Consumer Union letter, said via a spokesman that a delay may be a “wise choice,” according to Broadcasting & Cable magazine.
President-elect Obama is also contemplating a delay in the transition, the magazine reported.
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Source: TV Predictions.Com
Posted by: Geoff Caplan
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