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DTV Delay Measures Take Shape This Week
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All eyes will be on Capitol Hill this week when lawmakers debate legislation that could delay the nation's transition to digital TV.
Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, is taking his DTV postponement bill to the Senate floor sometime this week. His provision would delay the digital TV switch to June 12, yet allow broadcasters to make the transition prior to that date.
Rockefeller's bill also addresses issues with the federal government's digital TV converter box coupon program, which ran out of money earlier in the month.
It appears that Rockefeller's approach has bipartisan support, including the backing of Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), ranking member on the committee.
On the House side, Joe Barton (R-Texas), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced legislation on Friday that would authorize $250 million for the digital converter box coupon program.
When introducing the bill, Barton reiterated his opposition to delaying the digital TV switch, saying his measure would "let us avoid the damage and confusion of delaying the DTV transition by getting the people who need coupons off the waiting list and into the stores."
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All eyes will be on Capitol Hill this week when lawmakers debate legislation that could delay the nation's transition to digital TV.
Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, is taking his DTV postponement bill to the Senate floor sometime this week. His provision would delay the digital TV switch to June 12, yet allow broadcasters to make the transition prior to that date.
Rockefeller's bill also addresses issues with the federal government's digital TV converter box coupon program, which ran out of money earlier in the month.
It appears that Rockefeller's approach has bipartisan support, including the backing of Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), ranking member on the committee.
On the House side, Joe Barton (R-Texas), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced legislation on Friday that would authorize $250 million for the digital converter box coupon program.
When introducing the bill, Barton reiterated his opposition to delaying the digital TV switch, saying his measure would "let us avoid the damage and confusion of delaying the DTV transition by getting the people who need coupons off the waiting list and into the stores."
