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Re-activateAs we head into the weekend, the proposed delay in the imminent shutoff of over-the-air analog TV broadcasts is looking like a stronger bet.
Though the February 17 date stands as of now, a bipartisan compromise that would delay the transition until June 12 was made official today in Washington D.C. and will go to a vote in the Senate next week. The telecommunications advocates at the Washington office of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, are hopeful that the compromise deal will pass in the Senate. A House vote will follow.
Also, the Obama administration yesterday appointed as interim chairman of the Federal Communications Commission a commissioner, Michael J. Copps, who had publicly expressed support for the delay. (Adobe Acrobat required.)
As Washington works this out, meantime, many Americans who receive over-the-air broadcasts to older TV sets can and should continue to equip those sets to receive new digital signals. We've added the new video at right to our advice and assistance on the DTV transition. Featuring test engineer Chris Andrade, it offers step-by-step advice on how to set up and troubleshoot the DTV converter box and UHF antenna that are required to receive digital signals to an older analog set.
Not sure if you need a box? Consult our Guide to the DTV Transition or watch our free video "Guide to DTV converter boxes." Not sure which box is best for your needs? Consult our Ratings of more than 30 boxes, available free. Looking to get one of the $40 coupons issued by the federal government to subsidize the cost of a new box? For now, the subsidy program is out of money, but you can get on a waiting list to receive a coupon at https://www.dtv2009.gov.
—Paul Reynolds
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