Feb 17 still on for Digital TV
p2pnet news view | TV:- This clip from the excellent visual comment on the US transition from analogue to digital TV says it all, p2pnet posted last week, going on:
“It’s on Top Gear Electronics which says because there are 1.4 million US households on the ‘underfunded digital converter voucher waiting list,’ in a bill that’s ‘expected to pass unanimously,’ a senate proposal could delay the DTV switchover to June 12.”
That was the hope. But it’s been dashed, thanks to the US House of Representatives.
A bill which would’ve postponed the analog shut-off to June 12 has been defeated, probably assuring millions of Americans, “unprepared for the analog switch-off will be without TV in less than three weeks,” says Home Media, going on »»»
The bill had passed through the U.S. Senate with a unanimous vote late Jan. 26, and while it would not have allocated any more funding to a $40 consumer coupon program for digital converter boxes, it would have allowed people with expired coupons to get new ones. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is running the coupon program, announced earlier this month that it had run out the $1.34 billion Congress allocated to it. More than 2.5 million people are on a waiting list for the coupons, and the Nielsen Co. estimates 6.5 million American homes are unprepared for the switch.
President Barack Obama supports a delay, but, “House Republicans argued a delay would prove costly to broadcasters who have prepared for all-digital TV Feb. 17,” says the story, adding the bill could come back for another vote as-is, or amended.
January , 2009
Top Gear Electronics – Senate Expected to Delay DTV Transition to June 12th on Optional Basis [Digital Transition], January 23, 2009
p2pnet – Digital TV transition delay, January 23, 2009|
Home Media – Digital TV Delay Defeated in House, January 28, 2009
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