Lawmakers Eye June 12 DTV Transition Delay

Lawmakers are considering a bill to put the U.S. digital TV transition back to June 12th to give consumers more time to get ready - and get converter vouchers.

Congressional lawmakers are looking at a plan that would push the United States’ transition to digital television back from the widely-publicized February 17, 2009 cutoff date to June 12, 2009, in an effort to give Americans more time to prepare for the switch…and get ahold of $40 voucher coupons good towards the purchase of DTV converter boxes. However, many have noted that delaying the DTV transition could create considerable consumer confusion—since the February 17 date has been widely promoted for over two years—and television broadcasters may incur significant costs trying to delay or re-architect their transition plans in so short a time.

The legislation, introduced by democratic senators Jay Rockefeller and Amy Klobuchar proposed pushing the transition date back to June 12, Republicans in the House and Senate are increasingly throwing their support behind the bill, however, once it was amended to include changes from Republican senator Kay Bailey Hutchison that would describe the June 12 date as an option, rather than a mandate (so stations could transition after February 17, if they choose, rather than keeping analog and digital broadcasts going). Hutchison also added language saying the individuals who had applied for a DTV voucher but didn’t use it may re-apply for a voucher; currently, folks whose vouchers expire after 90 days can’t re-apply for a new one. The bill would also extend the deadline to apply for DTV vouchers from March 31 to July 31, 2009.

A vote in the U.S. Senate is expected next week.