sunnykerr

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The effort to delay next month's scheduled death of analog television suffered a setback in Congress on Wednesday, despite warnings that millions of American homes will not be able to see broadcast shows in three weeks.

Will the end of analog television come in February, or sometime later? The answer is now up in the air.

The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously Monday, failed to get the necessary two-thirds vote in the House on Wednesday afternoon.

It was not immediately known whether or when another vote might be taken in the House.

Unless Congress acts quickly, older televisions won't pick up TV broadcasts without a digital converter after February 17. The switch will not affect cable or satellite subscribers.

On that date, all local stations are required to pull the plug on the analog transmitters they've used since the invention of television. The stations have begun digital broadcasts over the past several years

The transition to digital-only broadcasts has been set for nearly a decade, but 6.5 million households, mostly lower-income, have not bought the newer digital TVs or converters for their old sets, according to a study by the Nielsen Co.

In January, the incoming Obama administration urged Congress to extend the date because the switch "has not been adequately funded."

"There is insufficient support for the problems consumers (particularly low income, rural and elderly Americans) will experience as a result of the analog signal cutoff," transition team Co-chairman John Podesta said in a news release.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Rockefeller, D-West Virginia, would allow stations to keep their old transmitters turned on until June 12.

Two members of the Federal Communications Commission sent a letter to Rockefeller and Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this month "to express our deep concern" that the country is "nowhere near" ready for the signal switch.

Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein called for a delay to give the government more time to get "boots on the ground" to help with the transition.

At least $200 million has been spent in recent years to explain to TV viewers how they need to prepare, but one key element of the federal government's transition plans hit a bottleneck in recent months.

The FCC ran out of money in recent weeks for the $40 coupons to help people buy converters for their analog TVs.

The new digital signals also don't reach some communities now served by the analog signals, the commissioners said.

The FCC opened a call center just last week to help consumers prepare for the analog-to-digital switch.

The four-month delay would come with a cost to local television stations. Keeping their old transmitters turned on would bring higher power bills and maintenance expenses.

Delay of analog TV's death hits House snag - CNN.com

I don't know what I think about this one. On one hand, it's a kind of expense people don't need to think about in these difficult times. On the hand, it's been in the books for a very long time... and, not to be too harsh or anything, but if all you can afford is one of those TVs with antennas... maybe you don't need to have a TV for a bit.

Bella Grint

It has been announced for a long time but extra time might not hurt either.

mh67511

I am glad the House voted against the delay. Delaying it would just confuese people even more. We've been hearing about this for months and I'm quite sick and tired of the scrolling tickers, pop up ads, etc. If you didn't know this was coming you're either living under a rock or don't watch much TV.

As far as the coupons....over $1 billion was allocated and they only ran out in December. People have had months to request them! Sorry, but you snooze you lose. And it's not like the boxes are THAT expensive: $40 to $60 bucks and it's a one time expense.

The only people who "aren't ready" are those who waited until now to order the coupons only to be put on a waiting list and are mad that they may have to pay full price for a converter box. You could delay this for 5 years and there would still be people who aren't ready.

As far as digital signals not reaching some communities...that's new to me, but I don't really but it! My parents live in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by corn fields, and with their converter box they get all the major networks. Now they do have an antenna on top of the house...but I highly doubt anyone living in a rural area could have gotten good reception with a rabbit ears antenna anyway. I'm sure very very few people would have limite access to digital signals. Plus I believe after the switch many stations will be increasing the power of their signals.

ceilirose

It's already been done in Hawaii for about 2 weeks. There was a mild case of unhappiness and confusion by some but that lasted about 12 hours. There's a high level of cable subscribers here already because a lot of us live on mountains and valleys and reception is almost non-existent without cable. Some people did have the "rabbit ears" but it really wasn't that big a deal.

vc318

Yeah, I agree. Even though Obama means well, the fact remains that the people who procrastinated either don't care to switch over or must have been too busy to take care of the matter since this was announced like two years ago.

canflam

It's probably easier to just get Comcast or Satelite TV. I'm planning on getting Dish Network. I read in some reviews of the Apex - Digital-to-analog converter at bestbuy.com that it it hardly picks up any stations & you have to hold the remote at an angle. The Insignia 1 though is apparently better of the 2 from reviews I read at bestbuy.com

mh67511

Honestly, it all depends on where you live and how close you are to the signals. In my old apartment, I got ZERO channels with the rabbits ears, analog or digital, but in my apartment I get all the major networks and then some.

canflam

You have 1 then?

sunnykerr

I hadn't thought of it, but I agree: Delaying it at this point would cause more confusion than anything else.

Plus, think of all the people who actually were proactive and have already made the transition. I'd be pissed if it were me and it came to "nothing."

mh67511

No, I bought a new TV that had the coverter already inside it. My parents got a converter box and I'm not sure what brand they got. I'll have to ask them, but they do have a big antenna on their roof.

canflam

They don't have any issues with theirs either?

canflam

Is everyone thrilled about the switch to digital TV being delayed until June? All I can say is, Yes! Yes! Yes! This is great news for if you haven't made the switch yet, like me & now I can wait to buy a new HDTV, which is good, because I can't exactly afford 1 today.

mh67511

4 more months of scrolling ticker ads, infomercials, pop up TV ads...

I wonder how many people STILL wont be prepared come June? I have a feeling that many broadcasters will go ahead and make the switch on the 17th anyways as they've been preparing for this for year.

canflam

I'm not sure how many people won't be prepared in June, but I don't plan on being 1 of them. How come you still watch comercials? You don't have Tivo yet either?

vc318

As far as the delay, I hope those who didn't take care of this will make sure to do it now.