Under the argument that millions of people (approximately 5.5 percent of
the American public) will not be prepared for the mandatory switch from
analog to digital television scheduled for February 17, the House voted
to approve a bill proposing to postpone the switch for four months –
until June 12 of this year. The bill was already passed by the Senate,
and goes to the President for approval. That approval is viewed as a
given, as the president has supported the proposal with the view that a
postponement will give the government more time to “do it right.”
The federal government’s coupon program, designed to offset the
consumer’s cost of purchasing conversion boxes, ran out of funds with
millions of people still on the waiting list to receive their coupons. A
household may qualify for two $40 coupons that carry an expiration date
of 90 days after date of issue. A large number of coupons have also
apparently been issued but not redeemed.