Congress Votes to Delay Switch to Digital TV Until June

JEFFREY BROWN:

As the congressionally mandated Feb. 17 deadline for the switch from analog to digital TV approached, the nation's broadcasters rushed to convert to the new technology.

In fact, more than 85 percent of TV households wouldn't notice a change, since they've already received a digital signal through their cable, satellite, or other subscription TV service, or their TV was purchased after March 2007, when all sets had built-in digital receivers.

Consumers with older analog-only TVs can get a digital signal by hooking up their sets to a digital converter box. But that message has been slow to get out. And a government program to help, by sending out coupons for the purchase of converter boxes, ran out of money, leaving fears that millions of viewers could have their sets go dark.

Monday, the Senate responded by approving a four-month delay to give consumers more time to prepare. The House debated the issue today. Representative Maxine Waters of California argued for the delay.

REP. MAXINE WATERS, D-Calif.:

Can you imagine Feb. 18, when millions of households will have their TVs go dark and not understand why? Yes, it would be great if everyone had received their coupons, if everybody understood the transition to digital, but they don't.

JEFFREY BROWN:

But Rep. Joe Barton, Republican of Texas, said the transition had gone on long enough and delay comes with costs.

REP. JOE BARTON, R-Texas:

This bill doesn't approve any money. The money for this bill is in the stimulus package, which probably won't clear the Senate for another couple of weeks, so we're delaying a hard day transition today with no additional money, nor any way to send out additional coupons. How silly is that?