DTV delay passes, 264-158
The House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon passed legislation to delay the transition to digital television and the cessation of analog broadcast, by a largely party-line vote of 264 to 158. The transition, previously scheduled for February 17, will be pushed back 115 days to June 12 once President Obama signs the bill, as he is expected to.
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who led the opposition to the delay legislation, made a last-ditch attempt to block the vote by offering a motion to recommit the bill, returning it to committee with an amendment requiring broadcasters occupying spectrum destined for emergency services to adhere to the original deadline—a motion that failed by an only slightly smaller margin than that supporting the delay bill. Broadcasters may begin making the transition to digital-only before the June 12 final deadline, though Barton has suggested that FCC interference rules may prevent some from doing so ahead of their spectrum neighbors.
Related posts:
- DTV likely delayed till June 12
- How to prepare for February’s digital-TV switchover
- Canadian Networks Consider End to Broadcast TV
- Analog TV to Die April 7, 2009
- Champions Online Delay Explained
