Digital Transition Could Be Delayed Until June 12

For the many RVers and U.S. households not yet ready for the analog-to-digital transition
on February 17, the Obama administration is working to delay the changeover by four months.
The Senate voted unanimously on Monday to postpone the changeover to June 12, but the House
Republicans defeated the bill on Wednesday. It is estimated 6.5 million Americans are still
not ready for the transition. President Barack Obama called for the transition date to be
postponed after a $1.34 billion funding limit forced a delay in the coupon program that the
U.S. Congress initiated for consumers to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box to
convert digital signals from the antenna to analog signals for their older television sets.
With this program, all U.S. households are eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40
each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two converter boxes. The National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is responsible for administering
this coupon program, will soon be sending out new coupons. Nearly 2.6 million coupon
requests have been on a waiting list as of January 21.