Senate okays another digital TV transition delay
by Steven Kim 
posted Jan 30th 2009 at 7:24AM
Just to make sure that the digital TV transition gets delayed, the US Senate has approved another measure to postpone the transition date until June 12 and sent it on its way to the House of Representatives. If the House's mere indication that the delay would go through didn't dash our hopes of analog-free airwaves next month, the quick-fire nature of this second bill certainly did. Essentially the same as the first proposal, this version with minor edits cleared the Senate unanimously. With the House in recess until next week, we'll have to wait for any movement, but it's looking like we'll be stuck with analog for a while longer. Hopefully, this whole mess will be resolved, because the longer it goes on, the more people will become confused, and maybe join the 22-percent of Americans who are planning to give up on TV altogether.
Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, Tuners, OTA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marshall @ Jan 30th 2009 7:52AM
So what were the edits? That's the real story.
David S @ Jan 30th 2009 7:56AM
FTA: "the bill also lets broadcast stations make the switch earlier than that date if they are ready. If the stations do make that early switch, that spectrum can immediately be allocated to public safety and other uses."
also
FTA: "consumers with expired converter box coupons may apply for new replacement coupons."
squiggleslash @ Jan 30th 2009 8:22AM
I thought stations can switch earlier if they want anyway. I was under the impression some stations already have gone digital only.
Still, it might placate some of the nay-sayers by making it explicit. To hear many complaining about the deadline being extended, including DM above (why would anyone stop watching TV over the fact that some analog stations are still on the air?) you'd think that there isn't going to be any digital broadcasting until February?
The fact is almost all stations are broadcasting in digital right now. Nothing about the delay changes that. What is does do something about is the fact that the shortage of coupons, which is suddenly a big deal with the economy crapping out, is going to prevent near universal take-up of digital in the two weeks left.
kevin @ Jan 30th 2009 2:52PM
@ David: I thought those clauses were in the bill that got killed in the House the other day - I know for sure that the first part (for early switchover) was included; that's part of the reason it even made past the Senate the first time around.
Ben @ Feb 3rd 2009 10:36AM
My local fox channel has been running commercials that are are going to shut down broadcasting for 3 days to convert to digital. I think it was today, but it was definitely before the 17th.
TRT @ Jan 30th 2009 8:28AM
In the economic atmosphere that we currently reside in; Why are government officials wasting time and money pandering to people with 25 year old TV's? Who cares! Are the powers that be going to repeat this excercise when alternative energy sources become mainstream and pander to owners of 56' Chevys? Why not shutdown airways and highways, pander to horse lovers and fire up the stagecoach's. They can hang their hats on the idea of arrested global warming.
squiggleslash @ Jan 30th 2009 8:35AM
As recently as two years ago, I went into stores and couldn't find a single TV with a digital tuner that didn't cost over around $750. I'm really not sure where you get it from that digital televisions have been on sale for twenty five years. The ATSC standard is old, but it's not THAT old, and even after it was ratified it took a very long time for anyone to actually produce TVs conforming to it. Even so-called HDTVs from seven or eight years ago didn't bother with the tuner.
I would be somewhat surprised if a majority of TVs sold weren't analog until early last year, when the FCC started cracking down and started banning the sale of TVs without digital tuners over certain sizes.
TVGenius @ Jan 30th 2009 11:17AM
The deadlines for TVs to have digital tuners was about two years ago with larger sets required to comply even earlier. These were also set well in advance.
As far as why they don't switch early, prior to Feb. 17th, they would have to have filed with the FCC for permission to do so. Also, they risked losing viewers who were waiting until the last minute to get a digital tuner. The last bill also included the ability for stations to switch early, and our local stations said in a story in the newspaper that the electrical savings would be $2,500 - $4,000 a month if they didn't wait until June.
squiggleslash @ Jan 30th 2009 11:41AM
Yes, that's what the deadline said. However, the deadlines were being heavily flouted until last year. That's why the FCC started taking action. Even then, they waited until April:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/04/11/break-the-fccs-digital-transition-rules-thats-a-6-million-fi/
Billy @ Jan 30th 2009 1:50PM
Very good points, to delay this with people with the old tv set is nuts
psycros @ Jan 30th 2009 3:03PM
Umm, have you [i]looked[/i] at the left's agenda lately? That's pretty much their plan for the "little people" - the elite will still have their SUVs and private jets, of course.
gt1racer47 @ Jan 30th 2009 9:04AM
Can the govt please just kill the delay and get on with the transition already this is getting very annoying!
When June 12th comes everyone will still be on their behinds and would think "i did not need a Converter box in the first place?"
Le Big Mac @ Jan 30th 2009 9:27AM
Why aren't stations switching? Given that a lot of them apparently would save some money in doing so, why don't they just cut off now? Are they worried that their competitors won't, so these grannies who can't afford to buy a converter box will watch the other channels and boost advertising rates? Do advertisers care about grannies who can't figure out the DTV transition ads?
Brick the Wulf @ Jan 30th 2009 9:36AM
It should read that 22% of those with analog TV's won't make the switch, NOT 22% of the American population.
Kumar @ Jan 30th 2009 10:12AM
If you haven't noticed the coverage in the last month, then you deserve to be without TV for a few days. I think the numbers of households it flawed as well. Most homes have multiple TVs, and you only need 1 with cable/sat/converter box to get your fix on.
I'm personally looking forward to the switch, so the stations can go full power on the digital broadcasts. Can't wait to catch shows from other cities. ;)
TK @ Jan 30th 2009 11:13AM
If it didn't pass last time with 66%, who thinks minor changes will make it pass this time. Unless this new bill makes it now a majority vote, this thing is doomed to fail yet again, especially after how house republicans were treated with the bailout package.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 30th 2009 4:52PM
That and I think those "changes" were already in the first proposal.
Jason @ Jan 30th 2009 11:21AM
This delay being knocked down by the House has me perplexed. The House (and Senate) have obviously shown they believe that they are no check or balance, so outside of voting "no" strictly because election time is in progress and they need your vote, I just don't understand why they said no to this one. God I hate my fellow voters who keep these knuckleheads in for life....
/rant off.
Ordeith @ Jan 30th 2009 4:37PM
the knuckleheads are the ones that voted yes to the delay.
Ordeith @ Jan 30th 2009 4:39PM
It said :
replying to Jason [Undo]
Yet it attached the last reply to calcs.exe.
Why Engadget?, Why?!?
calc.exe @ Jan 30th 2009 11:21AM
This is just CYA for politicians -- They can claim government tried to help, but the stations that make the switch are evil and need more regulation.
Brent @ Jan 30th 2009 1:43PM
You know what's worse than leaving a few people without TV? The government wasting time and creating confusion over whether these people are going without TV in February or June. How about worrying about things that actually matter like creating some jobs?
ZeitgeistXIII @ Jan 30th 2009 1:59PM
Are there not more important things to be worked on than dribble extensions that do nothing to create jobs? How many people are getting left out that have cancelled cable or sold their TVs, to pay bills since lossing their jobs! None of its going to matter extension wise if the masses they are talking about do not have money to pay their power bills.
Ken @ Jan 30th 2009 2:12PM
At this rate, the plug will be pulled on Feb 17th...then they will turn the analog back on for a few months before shutting it off again.
LET IT DIE!!!
nick @ Jan 30th 2009 2:37PM
How much is this NOW costing us? For years, months, weeks they've been advertising the switch over. I can't believe they're going to delay it AGAIN. UGH.
lee @ Jan 30th 2009 5:06PM
Oh my god this is just getting dumber and dumber, they are just causing confusion now, geez just get on with it already. When they have no picture they will figure it out and go to best buy. No wonder the gov't can't get anything done.
nistorica @ Jan 31st 2009 1:44AM
Dude,Seniors are driving Prius ,it's safe to assume they have newer tvs at home!
Carey S. Turner @ Jan 31st 2009 12:20PM
This is what I wrote to my congressman, maybe it helps:
You can do this as well from this site: http://www.house.gov/
Anyway, this is what I wrote.
To be Brief,
I understand that the house will once again be considering a bill to delay the DTV transition to June 12. I hope that we can count on you to once more vote against this bill. It is against public interest to create more confusion on the issue. Many who have delayed buying equipment until now, are likely to only delay further should the transitions be delayed. There are also many who will discover that the transition will have little effect on them as well when they discover there cable or satellite still works fine.
There is also an opportunity for a small boost to retail sales when individuals who have been holding on to there money experience a need to make a purchase of an affordable $40 converter box, or choose to purchase a new TV.
Thank You for your time.
Carey S. Turner
Brian Kaempen @ Feb 1st 2009 1:57AM
Why doesn't Engadget become a lobbying group in Washington D.C.? This way the old fogies we've elected into office can get some real technology advice. Obviously the Senate's "Science, Technology, and Innovation" subcommittee isn't doing what they're suppose to and represent the majority of Americans. If they try to make it their goal to please even the smallest of minorities, then where's the "Transgender subcommittee" to discuss matters important to them? (no offense intended towards transgender persons)
-Brian
bballcards @ Feb 2nd 2009 6:17PM
Woo hoo!! Nothing like pissing away a half a billion in taxpayer dollars to accomplish absolutely nothing.
Kyle @ Feb 3rd 2009 5:44PM
They have been advertising the Feb 17 day every morning during the news. If people haven't already prepared for this, then Darwin's law applies. This is such a waste to delay. They should have just mailed out converter boxes instead of the coupons and it would have made things easier.
Josh L @ Feb 4th 2009 3:44PM
Not to mention confuse the crap out of people who in March will wonder "I thought I wasn't going to receive analog??"
We've pushed back this switch for years and years. Now some minority rights group wants a pat on the back from some politician that needs his/her name on a bill.
Daniel @ Feb 4th 2009 4:30PM
i just fired off an email to my local rep. i should also send him to to vote against the new gun control laws and any anti-videogame laws.