Congress has delayed the transition to digital television broadcasting until June 12, giving consumers four more months to prepare for the switch.
A 264-158 vote Wednesday in the House of Representatives passed the bill to delay the transition because experts say many Americans will not be ready for the initial Feb. 17 deadline.
The bill will now go to President Barack Obama for approval.
The Nielsen Co., a provider of marketing information, estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households are still not ready to make the digital switch either because they are not subscribed to cable or satellite TV, do not have a digital tuner TV or have not purchased a converter box.
Wendy E. Werden, director of marketing for Arizona Public Media, said the delay is a great move for consumers who have not been able to get ready.
“This will give people more time to prepare,” Wendy said.
She said the delay would not create a negative impact.
“We’re continuing an outreach effort so that folks that have not [gotten converted boxes] or those folks that have gotten their converter boxes have more time to set up their boxes properly,” Werden said.
But Dan Gillmor, director of the Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, said that in a recent test by digital experts, the reception of digital channels was not good enough, and that digital experts have not prepared enough for the transition either.
“[Digital experts have] been assuming too much knowledge on the part of the consumers,” Gillmor said. “[The experts] clearly were not ready with the way they handled this transition in terms of getting people ready to have the right equipment.”
Gillmor said he worries the delay will cause even more confusion among the public and that negative consequences will ensue.
“A lot of people were planning their business on the switchover, so there is going to be disruption from the delay,” he said.
According to The National Association of Broadcasters, more than 34 million households are at risk of losing television reception if they do not take the necessary steps to make the digital switch.
In order to make the switch, a $40 DTV converter box is required, though it’s possible to apply for a coupon online at www.dtv2009.gov. Other options include the purchase of a new TV set with built-in digital tuner or a subscription to a cable, satellite or telephone company television service that provides with a digital signal.
Werden said when purchasing a converter box, consumers should look for a UHS antenna or a converter compatible for a UHS and VHS antenna. She said this would allow people to view the majority of stations switching to digital.
Political science sophomore Joseph Hoxie said he believes many people are not prepared to make the digital switch because of the tough economic times.
The purchase of the converter is going to add to the hardships people are already facing, so it’s reasonable to delay the switch, Hoxie said.
“Right now it’s time of priority setting, and some people are probably less worried about their cable and more worried about their house payments, having enough food to eat, and keeping their lights on,” he said.
Reach the reporter at griselda.nevarez@asu.edu.
