House Nixes Pause Button On Digital TV

(AP)  Bucking the Obama administration, House Republicans on Wednesday defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting to June 12 — leaving the current Feb. 17 deadline intact for now.

The 258-168 vote failed to clear the two-thirds threshold needed for passage. It's a victory for the GOP members, who warn that postponing the transition would confuse consumers.

The House Republicans say a delay also would burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the spectrum that will be vacated by the switchover, and create added costs for television stations that would have to continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more months.

The defeat is a setback for the administration of President Barack Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans won't be ready for next month's analog shut-off. The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not prepared for the transition. People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will not be affected.

"In my opinion, we could do nothing worse than to delay this transition date," said Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Commerce Committee. "The bill is a solution looking for a problem that exists mostly in the mind of the Obama administration."

Barton led the push to scuttle the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on Monday night.

The Obama administration had no immediate comment on the House vote.

Congress in 2005 required broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals, which are more efficient, to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum to be used for commercial services and interoperable emergency-response networks.

But the Obama administration called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department earlier this month hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. The coupon program allows consumers to request up to two $40 vouchers per household to help pay for the boxes, which translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs. The boxes generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the arm of the Commerce Department administering the program, is now sending out new coupons only as older, unredeemed ones reach a 90-day expiration date and free up more money. The NTIA had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list last week and those people will not receive their coupons before Feb. 17.

[rf35]

I''m a moderate Democrat who generally supports Obama, but I am glad this bill died. There is no reason to delay any longer. People have been hearing about this for years. If they aren''t ready by now, maybe they are too stupid to be watching TV. Or if they are too poor to afford a $40 converter, then they are too poor to waste electricity on a television. I agree with some other people on here who have said that those who aren''t ready now aren''t going to be any more ready in June. Why reward folks for laziness? Personally, I%u2019m looking forward to seeing what devices will be available using the newly freed bands. I hear this will dramatically increase free Wi-Fi coverage. Might be time for me to look into a laptop%u2026then I watch TV on the computer wherever I find myself.

[boatdocster]

Ah, the GOP - what was that line McSame-Peanut Head used in their campaign?

"Country First"

Guess that only applies if does not interfere with the business lobby donations...

[barbaram99]

I don''t want their coupons. They are worthless. I never sent for them. I would buy the box if I needed it. As it is..I don''t need it. I just put plug in the ext. TV card in to the USB jack on my notebook and watch TV. I heard about it in 06. Am ready.

[ctla567]

Of course house republican didn''t want to burden those industries or any industry. They would rather burden the consumers especially the poorer ones who haven''t got their converter box coupon.

[barbaram99]

Anyone with a computer can visit their TV stations''web site read about DTV. It is easy to hook up the box. Really. I don''t have a VCR anymore. I have not seen one of them boxes but could figure it out. A poster told ye how. I am legally blind and can if I had to, Therefore ye fully sighted folks can,

[ibzjem]

Thank God. The republicans finally got something correct. This switch has been talked about for at least 6 years. It was supposed to occur in 2006. Everyone''s had plenty of time to get ready. There is a lot of frequency space waiting to open up so everyone and their 2 year old can have a blackberry, iphone, or the next unnecessary overpriced communication device and service.

[truthvsobama]

Since, "to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum to be used for commercial services " the real question becomes whose commercial advertisers'' lobbyists'' pocket is Joe Barton in? And, for how much money did Old Joe sell out for?

[bobnjersey]

[Why does the rest of America have to wait for these lazy and ignorant people to do what they have had over a year to do?]
[Posted by mmeadors2 at 02:17 PM : Jan 28, 2009]

what exactly will everyone be waiting for?

[yongamerica]

These digital to analog converters being sold are a rip off to Uncle Sam and a rip off to the consumer. If there wasn''t a $40 government coupon program going on, these boxes would be selling for under $20, guaranteed. This is the day and age when DVD players and microwave ovens can be purchased for under $20.

[Puhgete]

@walt1944, I''m not sure I understand your theory. People can already switch to DTV right now if they want to. Delaying the end of the analog signal is not going to be any benefit to the cable and satelite TV companies.