Dang, the house defeats bill to delay DTV transition

They did the right thing, the date has been set stone cold for years now, delaying it would only add to the confusion, not eliminate it. The idea the senate gave of giving broadcasters the option of turning off the analog signal until June was really stupid.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.

House Republicans succeeded in scuttling a bill to delay the transition, which is scheduled for Feb. 17, less than two days after the Senate unanimously passed the plan.

The defeat is a setback for the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans are not ready for the switchover.

The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.