Congress Considers Delaying Dtv Transition In Wake Of Request By Obama Transition Team

摘要

In a surprise turn of events, members of Congress are considering pushing back the Feb. 17 digital TV transition deadline in the wake of a request to do so by President-elect Obama's transition team. It's unclear how long a delay might last, although some Hill and other sources suggest a period of about three months or so, but some industry entities and Republican members of Congress, as well as the Bush administration, are against it, saying it is not necessary and will result in consumer confusion. Meanwhile, work had continued on legislation addressing other solutionsincluding exempting the digital TV converter box coupon program from the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA), which would allow more coupons to be distributed before already-issued coupons expire. However, a House Democratic aide said Jan. 14 that a bill was now moot because it would not provide assistance in time to get boxes out by Feb. 17.