Law to delay digital TV transition to June 2009 pending
January 16th, 2009, 11:18 am · 6 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
**UPDATE, 12:35 p.m.**: AP is reporting that Senate Republicans have blocked the proposed bill to delay the the February 2009 digital transition to June. Democrats, however, say they will try again next week. This comes after President-elect Barack Obama once again urged Congress on Friday to delay the transition. Reason to block delay: It would cause too much confusion among consumers and would delay transferring those analog airwaves for emergency purposes.
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With President-elect Obama urging a delay to the planned Feb. 17 transition to digital TV, the bureaucrats are making things happen.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller introduced his bill to delay the transition for four months until June 12, 2009.
“I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition,” Rockefeller said in a press release.
On the House of Representatives’ side, Rep. Henry Waxman from California introduced a similar bill to delay the DTV transition.
Besides postponing the deadline, a delay will reform the coupon giveaway. According to the senator, 2 million Americans are still waiting for their $40 coupon, good for discounts on digital converter boxes that are need to upgrade older analog TVs to the digital age. The $1.3 billion committed to the transition has been used up. A delay would give the new administration time to find more money to put into the coupon program.
(One note: Anyone can buy a digital converter box without a coupon. You just won’t get the discount. Prices start around $40.)
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In Orange County and Los Angeles, 9.5 percent of TV-watching households aren’t prepared, according to a December report from The Nielsen Company, the TV research company. Approximately 535,000 households, or 9.5 percent, of folks in the region do not have a digital television, converter box or cable or satellite service.
On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission began implementing the “Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act,” or SAFER, which permits analog TV service for 30 days after the Feb. 17 deadline.
During the 30 days, TV networks can voluntarily use the analog airwaves to air public safety information and DTV transition tips on how to restore TV service. The FCC Order has 826 stations that are eligible to continue broadcasting during those 30 days. Stations not on the list are encouraged to work with other stations in the community to support the extension. Eligible stations in Orange County include:
| TV Station | Analog Channel |
Digital Channel |
|---|---|---|
| KNBC | 4 | 36 |
| KTLA | 5 | 31 |
| KWHY | 22 | 42 |
| KTBN | 40 | 23 |
More on the digital TV transition at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/dtv/
- Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
- At Obama’s request, law to delay DTV transition underway
- Dish welcomes digital TV transition with $9.99 deal
- Waiting list begins for Digital TV converter coupons
- How to install that digital converter box
- Digital TV coupons now available to more users
- Amazon starts selling converter boxes
- Most digital-TV coupons expire before being used
- Portable TVs will fade away after February
- Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
- 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
- Questions about Digital TV and the February deadline?
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Its ALL OBAMA. He wants to give out more $40.00 Vouchers to the poor.
I feel strongly delaying it until summer will give more people a chance to be better prepared, as also finances are very hard on most. I’m not sure what kind of difference the summer will make but it’s better then now at least for me. I’m out of work and the last thing I want to do is focus on TV issues. I just want to watch my programs,and tape them as I wish without worrying if things will be connected properally, along with spending money. Also, for serious TV watchers as myself, the summer time will be great as most season programs will be out till the fall. I think it’s selfish to pick such a date as Feb, when most will be right in the middle of watching whatever and risk being cut off, or looking like a desperate fool, by rushing out and spending money, when all they want is to have down time and relax etc, while watching ones shows. Yes, I do get out as well but the times when I’m upset TV is one outlet. Give us a break please. There’s plenty of digital toys aleady.
How much notice do people need?!?! As usual, many have waited until the last minute, but those same people will continue to wait, no matter when the final transition date is! As for making the change in February, the opportunity was there to make your transition LAST summer. No one had to wait until the middle of the viewing season. And personal finances wasn’t an issue last year when the coupon was available, and some models of the converter box could be had for free!
I’m retired on a fixed income. I ordered and received a coupon last May for the analog set in my guest room. By the time local retailers stocked converter boxes, the coupon had expired and was useless. Others I know requested coupons in November–three months before the transition date–and have yet to receive them. Don’t jump to blame people who aren’t ready yet. Perhaps you already have a new digital set or a cable subscription, but many good intelligent are hurting right now and can’t even afford a full-priced converter box in the meantime.
I feel that people should be ready, but with people losing their jobs and the economy not looking too good right now it would be nice to wait until June and let that be the final date. I myself find television as an escape from all the economy worries right now and would love for everyone to be able to get away from it all too. Please delay it just a little longer. Thank you
I know that the Senate is trying to delay the Digital TV Transition deadline, but for my point of view, it won’t really make much of a difference. If the president does approve the delay, not only do people have more time to make the switch, but it can also cost millions of dollars just to delay it. If it disapproves the delay, the transition will still be at February 17, 2009, but people who are unprepared will get the consequence of losing several channels. With the SAFER Act, people will get analog reception, but they don’t always rely on it since it last only for 30 days after the deadline. For my view, I believe that the delay should not be approved and keep the deadline on February 17, 2009.