The House voted today 264-158 to delay the analog TV shutdown until June 12.

The nation was two weeks away from the original date of Feb. 17 for the digital transition, allowing broadcasters to replace analog TV signals with digital ones.

But the Obama administration and many Democrats asked for the delay, saying millions of people are not ready for the switch. The bill, already approved by the Senate, now goes to the president for his approval, considered a given. Still be resolved is the funding needed for more coupons to help consumers offset the cost of converter boxes. That issue will likely be considered as part of the economic stimulus legislation.

“The legislation passed by Congress provides more time for Americans to prepare for the (digital) transition and will allow more time for the government to fix the coupon program," said David Rehron, president of the National Association of Broadcasters.

"It is unfortunate that Congress had to take additional action on this issue, but the prospect of leaving millions of consumers in the dark was simply unacceptable," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and a member of the House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet.

Opponents of the delay said it will cause confusion for consumers, and that it is not fair to the wireless companies, including AT&T and Verizon Wireless, as well as public safety agencies that are waiting to use part of the airwave spectrum that will go to them once the switch is made.

The Consumer Electronics Association, an industry trade group, expressed dismay about the decision and concern that the extension could lead to a shortage of converter boxes "because manufacturers and retailers planned box inventory based on a Feb. 17 transition date," said CEA president Gary Shapiro.

Planning started in 2005
With a nation in economic turmoil, it seems the last thing on the to-do list of legislators should have been the transition to digital television. The changeover has been planned since 2005, but the last 12 months were marked by public confusion about the switch and bureaucratic and political wrangling over a coupon program aimed at subsidizing the cost of converter boxes.

Yet the signs of trouble were there: the coupon subsidy program was running out of money, waiting lists were growing, and not enough public education in general was being done about the transition, the coupon program or how to hook up the converter boxes, which some have found troublesome.

“When government took their hands off the steering wheel of public education, a lot of confusion crept into the marketplace,” said Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports.

The Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration might dispute that, pointing to what the agencies see as extensive education efforts, supplanted by those from private industry groups like the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters.

The NAB, for example, started its educational campaign in November 2006, according to Shermaze Ingram of the organization.

Still, yesterday, acting FCC chairman Michael Copps said in a statement that "It has long been clear to me — and it’s even clearer since I became acting FCC chairman two weeks ago — that the country is not prepared to undertake a nationwide transition in 12 days without unacceptably high consumer dislocation."

Misconceptions continue
Some of the problem has to do with misconceptions about digital TV itself. As late as October, 41 percent of Americans “believed every single TV needs to be a digital TV in order to get a signal,” said Kelsey, citing a Consumers Union poll.

“About 25 percent believe that every television, whether it’s digital or not, whether it’s hooked up to cable or not, has to have a converter box. And 21 percent believe everyone needs to sign up for cable or satellite service in order to keep a picture on their television sets. Consumers remain extremely confused.”

TVs do not have to be digital, but they do need to be able receive digital broadcasts. The main ways to do that are by buying a converter box to take a TV’s signal from analog to digital, and using an antenna as well; subscribing to a cable or satellite service; or buying a digital TV.

The Nielsen Co. said recently that while 85 percent of households are ready for the digital transition, nearly 6 percent are not at all, and another 9 percent are “partially ready.”

“Partially ready” means “you may have four TV sets in the house, and three are connected to cable and one is an analog set that isn’t,” said Anne Elliot of the Nielsen Co. “It means at least one working TV set in the household would not be able to get a digital signal.” That set could be one that is “used in the kids’ bedroom to watch DVDs,” for example, she said.

Some have moved to new TVs
A year ago, the digital transition was reason enough for many to justify signing up for cable or satellite service or to buy a new TV. At the end of 2007, more than 50 percent of American households owned a digital television, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

In February 2008, the NTIA started making available two $40 coupons per household to help offset the cost of two converter boxes, which range from $50 to $80 each.


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Delaying the switch is stupid and won't solve anything.

Anybody who is still getting their TV with an old antenna and no converter box right now... they're obviously not paying attention. They're not going to be ready in June either! They are never going to be ready.

The only way to get these people ready is to switch off the analog TV, so they'll be like "WTF happened?" and go fix it.

I think the whole digital thing is complete chaos. The government needs to realize that people aren't rich like them, and most can't afford to get the box! Even with the coupons, the ones who still haven't gotten it, don't have enough to get the box!

Yeah, the whole coupon thing is a mess.

The coupons should've covered the entire cost of the converter boxes, and they shouldn't have expired in 90 days.

The coupon thing is stupid, I agree. It SHOULD cover the whole cost.

oh my god.... if people don't know about the digital transfer by now, then they are living under a rock.... my grandparents, who are in their early 80s, live in a retirement home, and even they have heard about it.... and they don't know anything about technology! What's the point of delaying it? I think most people have either already bought a converter box or new TV's (my TV is only 3 years old and it needs a converter box to work on analog.... which is kinda stupid, but I have cable so I don't have to worry about it)

I got DirecTV so...

I DON'T CARE
I DON'T CARE
I DON'T CARE
I DON'T CARE
My face like a Mannequin

Soory.

LFR! Same here

Right now they don't even have any more coupons to give out. Apparently most of the cost went to eye candy because I set one of these up for a relative, and I've gotta tell you, the coupon card is way too fancy for it's purpose. It looks just like a major credit card, gloss and all, when all they needed to do is print the code on a piece of paper.

It also slightly has to do with cutting people off from watching TV mid season, especially around sweeps, which would hurt the already ailing TV business

It's a smart move overall for all sides to delay the transition. Truthfully, it allows a little more time for the companies to perfect their products more. (And maybe sink the prices a bit? Who knows..)


I just got my coupons. I would love to have it cover the entire cost, but it's generous as is right now from my standpoint. I plan on buying some new rabbit ears/antennas as well.


What have you guys been getting for the boxes? I am grabbing mine here in the next two weeks. I'm thinking some well known brand such as Philips/Magnavox or RCA.

I'm surprised at how many people have t.vs with antennas