TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Government Signals Possible Delay In Digital TV Switch

ADVERTISEMENT

By RICHARD MULLINS

rmullins@tampatrib.com

Published: January 9, 2009

Could the federal government delay the switch to digital television?

Facing a growing list of glitches with the transition, political momentum started building this week to push back the transition date.

President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday urged Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting.

For now, federal law calls for TV broadcasters to plan to stop sending their analog TV signals on Feb. 17 and broadcast only their digital feeds. Millions of television sets will go blank if not connected to cable or satellite TV or a digital converter box.

Momentum for a change in that plan started to build after money ran short this week at the federal program that hands out $40 coupons to help purchase digital TV converter boxes. Unless Congress changes the rules, more than 100,000 people who need coupons may not get them before the changeover.

December data show that about 7.8 million households are unprepared for the transition, including about 200,000 in the Tampa Bay area.

NEED A CONVERTER BOX?

To get on the waiting list for a $40 coupon to buy a converter box, call 1-888-388-2009.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT