In an attempt to postpone the transition date from February 17 to June 12, the Senate passed a bill on Monday, Jan. 26 to delay the nationwide switch to digital TV signals.Fueled by worries that viewers aren't technically ready for the congressionally-mandated switch over, the reprieve will give consumer four additional months to to prepare for the digital switcheroo.
The bill will also allow consumers with unused or expired coupons--handed out by the government to offset the cost of the $40 converter box--to request new coupons and will give the nearly 2.5 million waiting for the government-sponsored rebate a chance to save.
"The Senate acted responsibly to give the Obama administration time to attempt to bring order to a mismanaged process," says Senate Commerce Chairman John Rockefeller in a statement supporting the TV-switch delay.
The reprieve will give an estimated 20 million homes not ready for the switch, including elderly and lower-income families, a chance to buy a converter box or subscribe to a cable or satellite provider.
UPDATE: Backers of a plan to expedite passage of a delay of the mandatory digital transition date were dealt a blow on Wednesday, Jan. 28, as the move failed to garner the required two-thirds majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans opposing the measure managed to gather up 168 nay votes to prevent the extension passing with limited debate and no amendments.
