Digital TV Switch To Be Delayed

Written by: the Site Administrator on January 31, 2009 at 11:54 am

Scott Alsafin
Staff Writer

On Thursday, the US Senate passed another resolution to delay the “big switch” to digital television from analog TV signals. Hopes were that the transition to DTV would take place on Feb. 17. However, those expectations are becoming increasingly unrealistic due to the ongoing movement to postpone the switch till June 12.

President Barack Obama is one of those opposing the movement. The push to delay the movement centers around the fact that there are currently an estimated 20 million households unequiped for the “big switch.” Most of the people who are unprepared are the impoverished, who lack the financial resources to make the switch, those who are well-aged, and then people who reside in rural areas similar to the outskirts of Lufkin.

The switch to digital TV will allow for better quality reception and more channels to be recieved. However, it appears that those within the bureaucracy want to take the utmost caution toward the switch because arguably, it is the biggest thing since the release of color television.

Each household will be able to sign up to receive two $40 coupons that can be used to help pay for these digital converter boxes.

The Senate must now wait for the bill to pass throught the House. The House has failed once to pass a bill, but hopes are that the bill to delay the switch will pass this time. If not, the switch will occur on schedule on Feb. 17.