December 20, 2005

Digital Television Mandate Moved to 2009

It looks like the push for all digital television has been pushed back to 2009. According to The Boston Globe:

The House yesterday approved legislation to complete the US transition to new, higher-quality digital television by Feb. 17, 2009, and to help consumers pay for the equipment needed to ensure their old televisions do not go dark.
Under a deal negotiated by Republicans in the House and Senate, up to $1.5 billion would be available to help some people buy converter boxes to keep their analog-signal televisions working when the transition is finished.

As you'll notice, the subsidy amount was dropped from $3 billion to $1.5 billion. While that's probably still too much, hopefully prices will be low enough that anyone can afford an HDTV and the subsidy for the converter boxes won't even be needed.

At Boston.com

Read More in: General News | HDTV | Televisions

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Posted by William Hungerford at December 20, 2005 10:42 AM

Comments

The subsidies will probably not cover all of the viewers who would want converters, I'm afraid -- especially if analog cable viewers need them (since downconversion isn't allowed).

Posted by: Steven Sande at December 21, 2005 5:42 PM