So, maybe this digital TV transition delay will happen on February 17 afterall. This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated a bill that would have postponed the nation’s move to digital TV broadcasts till June 12, or four months after the original deadline.

The bill was expected to pass after a similar bill in the Senate passed on Monday. The Senate bill also postponed the deadline to June in order to fix a government-funded coupon program for consumers to help offset the price of the digital conversion. The Senate bill had Republican and Democratic support. 

According to Broadcasting & Cable, the vote was 258 to 168 in favor of changing the date but a two-thirds majority was required for approval. 

A separate House bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL), seeks to put more money in the coupon program but not delay the deadline.

The coupon program, which offered U.S. households two $40 discounts off a digital converter box, ran out of money by early January. At the moment, there are 2.5 million people on the waiting list.

So… if you haven’t been keeping track, here’s what’s happened so far this year:

January 5: National Telecommunication and Information Administration, which has been handling the coupon program, says there’s no more money. A waiting list begins.

January 8: President-elect Obama requests that the digital TV transition be delayed.

January 16: Democrat-authored bill introduced in a Senate committee to delay DTV deadline. Senate Republicans block bill almost immediately.

January 26: Senate approves amended bill to delay DTV transition to June 12.

January 28: House rejects bill to delay DTV deadline after failing to get two-thirds majority vote.

More on the House vote:

Not So Fast: House Defeats DTV Delay Bill (PaidContent.org)

Digital TV Delay Bill Dies in US House (PC World)

DTV bill fails to pass in House (Broadcasting & Cable)

Related on Gadgetress:

• Get Digital TV transition questions answered this weekend January 27, 2009
• Senate approves DTV transition delay, could be law this week January 26, 2009
• Digital TV isn’t (totally) free, plus tips and tricks January 25, 2009
• Digital TV delay cost some TV channels $40,000/month January 23, 2009
• 23 DTV converter boxes for under $50January 23, 2009
• Bill to delay digital TV transition on againJanuary 22, 2009
• Law to delay digital TV transition to June 2009 pending January 16, 2009
• At Obama’s request, law to delay DTV transition underway January 14, 2009
• Dish welcomes digital TV transition with $9.99 deal January 9, 2009
• Waiting list begins for Digital TV converter coupons January 6, 2009

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