House votes down DTV delay, leaves consumers 'on their own'

Consumer Reports News: January 28, 2009 01:54 PM

The House has failed to pass a bill that would have delayed the transition from analog to digital television for four months. Broadcasting and Cable puts the vote count at 258 to 168 in favor, but due to a technicality in House rules, the measure needed a two-thirds majority to pass. With 258 votes in favor, the House has the votes it needs to send the bill to the president soon.

Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst for Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, said without delaying the switchover, the government was leaving consumers to fend for themselves when analog service ends on February 17.

"With over 3 million requests for coupons on a waiting list at the Commerce Department, consumers today have been told they're on their own," Kelsey said. "We're hopeful that the minority in the House will work with Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats and the new administration to come to a bipartisan compromise and give consumers relief for what has become a federal unfunded mandate."

Consumers Union was a strong supporter of the delay, which passed the Senate earlier this week, and also had the support of President Obama and major broadcasters. Opponents had objected to the extension for a number of reasons, including concerns about its cost; an additional $650 million would have been allocated to the coupon program, to help consumers pay for the federally mandated transition..

ConsumerReports.org is still here to help. Head on over to our Digital TV Transition page for answers to your questions about the big switch and check our Electronics blog for the latest on all your TV needs.

— Jamie Klatell

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House votes down DTV delay, leaves consumers 'on their own'

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