Senate passes bill to delay digital TV switch
‘The Senate passed a bill on Monday to delay the nationwide switch to digital TV signals, giving consumers nearly four more months to prepare.
The transition date would move to June 12 from February 17 under the bill that was fueled by worries that viewers are not technically ready for the congressionally-mandated switch-over.’
This is an ABSOLUTE MISTAKE. If they aren’t ready by now, it’s their OWN FAULT. They have been pushing the Feb. 17th date so much, that it needs to happen then. This is just going to cause more confusion, and delay the inevitable flood of confused calls…
What they really should do is cease transmission of programming on analog channels on the date originally planned, but instead, run a loop between now and June 12th with information on how to make the DTV switch.
Apparently though, this MIGHT be optional for stations. They may have a choice as to whether or not to go dark as planned. And with it costing them millions of dollars extra to stay on the analog spectrum ‘til June, I betcha most of them will.
