The House voted against a bill Wednesday to delay the nation's switch to digital television, handing a defeat to President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats who voiced concern that consumers needed more time to prepare for the transition.

By PBS News Hour

All new televisions made in America will have to be able to receive digital signals starting Thursday, as part of a campaign to transition the country to digital TV broadcasting by Congress' Feb. 17, 2009, deadline. A technology journalist explains…