WASHINGTON (Feb. 4) - Congress is giving consumers four more months
to prepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digital
television broadcasting.
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The House on Wednesday voted 264-158 to postpone the shutdown of
analog TV signals to June 12, to address growing concerns that too
many Americans won't be ready in time for the Feb. 17 deadline that
Congress had set three years ago. The Senate passed the measure
unanimously last week and the bill now heads to President Barack
Obama for his signature.
The change is being required because digital signals are more
efficient than analog, and ending analog will free up valuable
space in the nation's airwaves.
The delay is a victory for the Obama administration and
Democrats in Congress, who maintain that the previous
administration mismanaged efforts to ensure that all consumers -
particularly poor, rural and minority Americans - will be prepared
for the switchover.
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. People who subscribe to
cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will
not be affected.
"The passage of this bipartisan legislation means that millions
of Americans will have the time they need to prepare for the
conversion," the White House said in a statement. "We will
continue to work with Congress to improve the information and
assistance available to American consumers in advance of June 12,
especially those in the most vulnerable communities."
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Wednesday's vote came one week after House Republicans blocked
the bill under a special fast-track procedure that required
two-thirds support to pass. This time, the bill passed the House
under a regular floor vote, which only requires a simple majority.
"If almost 6 percent of the nation's households lose all TV
service, I think most people would declare the digital TV
transition to be a failure," Rick Boucher, D-Va., chairman of
House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications,
Technology and the Internet, said on the House floor Wednesday.
Opponents of a delay warned, however, that the move will confuse
consumers, create added costs for television stations that would
continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more
months and burden wireless companies and public safety agencies
waiting for the airwaves that will be freed up by the switchover.
"It's time for us to move forward on this and keep our word to
the American people," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., calling
for the transition to proceed Feb. 17.
Democrats have tried to address these concerns by allowing
broadcast stations to make the switch to digital signals sooner
than the June deadline if they choose. It is unclear how many TV
stations plan to take advantage of this option.
Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Commerce
Committee, has raised concerns that interference issues could
prevent some stations from turning off before June 12, because they
are scheduled to use new frequencies for their digital broadcasts.
