Just days after Neowin reported that the delay of the digital TV transition had passed the Senate; the House has shot down the measure. House republicans successfully stopped the bill today which will make way for the transition to occur on February 17th. This is seen as a slight blow to the Obama administration who wanted to hold off on the transition until June.
It only makes sense to continue on with the original date. Pushing back the February deadline will only cause confusion for consumers. The biggest argument is that the coupon money has run out and that many may no longer be able to receive over the air TV for free.
It is estimated that as many as 6.5 million people may lose their signals on February 17th. It is quite a small figure compared to the 296.5 million Americans who are ready for the transition.
Ummm... Barrack wanted to delay the change over. Yeah, Obama is afraid of change. Tisk Tisk.
This failure just means that the bill will have to go to the rules committee. After a rule is passed and the bill is brought up under that rule, a simple majority is all that is needed to pass the bill.
This is just a very small bump in the road to extend the deadline.
Nothing is forcing stations to keep their analog transmitter on the air. They could shut them down today if they wanted to. February 17th is the date analog transmitters MUST be shut down, there's nothing that says they have to say on until that date. If the date is postponed some stations might choose to shut down their analog transmitters anyway on Feb 17 because that's the date they've been telling everyone.
you have had years to get your self ready for the switch over or what ever its being called over there + vouchers were given to help with the cost.
There's been more than enough time to get ready for this... the older folks should have family or others to help them out with this. The media have been pushing this like hell.
Come on, 2/17!
Some broadcasters are holding out for the last minute-- they won't offer any DTV service until they drop analogue.
Nah, not really, most of us here in hurricane land rely on radios more than TV, esp. when the power is totally out for 1-2 weeks and really esp. right before/after a hurricane.
Then again, I live in SC and I have not seen a hurricane since Hugo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Hugo).
Then again, I live in SC and I have not seen a hurricane since Hugo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Hugo).
If Katrina is anything to go by, then people don't listen to what they're told on the tv anyway.
I'm sure taxes pay for those boxes in the UK?
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