The Channel Wire

January 09, 2009

President-elect Barrack Obama is supporting the idea of delaying the Feb. 17 transition to digital television -- a stance that several lawmakers have taken recently.

The entire nation was to have switched over to digital television next month. That implementation is not a concern for cable television subscribers, for example, but it is significant to those who get TV reception through an outside antenna or "rabbit ears." Those viewers need a converter box, for which the federal government is offering subsidies in the form of coupons. Those coupons, however, have run out, forcing those who need them to be put on waiting lists.

In a letter recently sent to Capitol Hill, John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, stated: "With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively-mandated analog cutoff date."

Congressional Democrats, including senators Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, also support the idea of pushing back the DTV transition from its current deadline of Feb. 17.

Klobuchar, who says more than 20 percent of her state receives television via over-the-air (or analog) signals, made news last fall when she warned of DTV's "cliff effect." That refers to the fact that some homes may lose their signals even if they buy new DTV sets or converter boxes because of the positioning of the signal transmitters.

For Rockefeller, the issue concerns public safety. His consumer protection bill -- The Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act " was recently signed into law by President George Bush. The legislation is aimed at making sure access to critical emergency information is still available to those who have not made the switch to DTV by Feb. 17.

"The DTV transition is a matter of public safety for American families," Rockfeller said in a statement. "With digital transition just weeks away, this law aims to make sure that millions of Americans will be able to get important public safety information and learn how to restore their lost television signals."

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, maintains there is no need to extend the digital transition program, because more coupons can be sent as unredeemed ones expire.

However, the coupons' expiration date of 90 days is controversial as well. The owner of the coupon must use it within that time frame. Unused coupons cannot be traded in for new ones.

In a statement, the National Association of Broadcasters' Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton said: "NAB and broadcasters nationwide are committed to being ready by Feb. 17 and strongly support a solution that would enable the government to continue making converter box coupons available to consumers who rely on free television. We continue to urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure coupons are made available for those who need them.

"Broadcasters have been and will continue to be committed to doing everything in our power to make this transition work to ensure that viewers continue to have access to the important news and information that free, local television provides."

In the meantime, the FCC commissioners have stepped up efforts to publicize the switchover. Visits to McAllen, Texas, Detroit and Bristol, Va., were on the FCC docket to spread the word this week. In addition, Commissioner Robert McDowell held interviews with the media on the subject in Las Vegas.