Despite President Obama’s desire to delay the conversion to digital TV, the House of Representatives stopped a bill that would have delayed the conversion until June 12, 2009. Despite the Senate unanimously agreeing earlier this week to dealy the conversion, 13 Democrats were joined most Republicans in the House effort to disallow the delay.
Kara Rowland writes for the Washington Times:
Proposals to push back the transition also have sparked criticism from former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin as well as electronics manufacturers and public safety agencies that are waiting to take control of the wireless spectrum being freed up for interoperable communications.
Government and private entities alike have spent millions over the past year alerting consumers to the federally mandated switch from analog to digital signals…
The article also says that a delay may be eventually approved next week.
I sympathize with people who requested coupons early on and could not find the converter boxes in stores before their coupons expired. Additionally, the DTV coupon program ran out of money before the conversion date. Today, those needing coupons can get on a waiting list.
However, if it is true that the analog spectrum must be freed up for public safety and emergency services, then delaying the conversion does not make sense. Other than giving the government additional time to possibly make good on promises to deliver coupons, additional public service announcements over the next three months will have minimal positive impact. The public has already been bombarded for many months with messages saying that February 17th is the deadline.