[opendtv] Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
- From: "James Albro" <jalbro@xxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 15:12:37 -0500
Here we go...
Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/8/2009 2:30:00 PM
Related:
The DTV Countdown: Complete Coverage of the DTV Transition
Markey: Feb. 17 DTV Date May Have To Move
President-elect Barack Obama has asked Congress to extend the Feb. 17 DTV
transition date.
Citing problems with the DTV-to-analog converter box program and "inadequate
funding" of government DTV education programs, John Podesta, co-chair of the
Obama-Biden transition team, requested that "the cut-off date for analog
signals should be reconsidered and extended."
That is according to a letter (click here to view) being sent Thursday to the
chairs and ranking Republicans on the House and Senate Committees overseeing
communications (The House Energy & Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce
Committee).
Saying that only 28 days after the inauguration Americans would wake up to find
their analog TV's no longer able to receive an over-the-air signal-and pointing
to the decision on the date made in 2005 and implemented by the outgoing
administration-Podesta urged them to "consider a change to the legislatively
mandated cut-off date."
He said that funds to support the conversion are "woefully inadequate,"
particularly to address the problems of seniors and low income viewers.
He also suggested that there would be money from the president-elect's economic
recovery package that would help address the funding shortfalls.
Consumers Union, which called for a similar move Wednesday after consultation
with the transition, has suggested moving the date to midsummer.
© 2009, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
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