Obama Asks Congress to Postpone Digital Transition

Worried about the upcoming digital transition? President-elect Barack Obama is concerned about it too. He is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting because he feels too many Americans who rely on analog television sets won't be ready.

Obama transition team co-chair John Podesta said in a letter to key lawmakers on last week that the digital transition needs to be delayed. Apparently, the Commerce Department has run out of money for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration recently said that it had hit a $1.34 billion funding limit set by Congress to pay for converter box coupons.

Podesta wrote, "With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively mandated analog cutoff date."

Since the Feb. 17 deadline was originally set by Congress, it would have to pass a new law to postpone it. The request for a delay is being called a victory for Consumers Union, which had asked for a postponement.

However, the National Association of Broadcasters would not comment on whether it supports or opposes pushing back the transition date and said through a spokesperson it believes the problems with the coupon program can be fixed without forcing a delay.

For more, check out Obama urges delay in digital TV transition or visit the official DTV transition site at www.dtv.gov.