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Rockefeller Again Urges Stations to Wait Until June for DTV Switch

Feb 6, 2009  •  Post A Comment

For the second time this week, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee is urging broadcasters not to go ahead with the digital TV changeover before June 12.
In a statement today, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., suggested broadcasters should act in the public interest and delay any move. Sen. Rockefeller was the sponsor of the legislation delaying the digital TV changeover from Feb. 17 to June 12. That legislation now sits on President Barack Obama’s desk awaiting his signature.
For TVWeek’s comprehensive coverage of the digital television transition, visit the DTV Switch Navigator page.
While the legislation allows TV stations to switch before June 12, Mr. Rockefeller cited some of the same concerns about viewer readiness for the switch that led Congress to delay the changeover.
“Broadcasters in West Virginia and throughout the country are still permitted to move forward with their DTV transition on Feb. 17, but I strongly urge them to instead take advantage of the June 12 delay in every area where consumers are not completely ready,” he said in the statement.
“This is not just about being able to watch sports or a favorite sitcom. We must do everything we can to make sure that no family loses access to over-the-air broadcast signals because of the important news and public-safety information that comes over the television.
“It’s my hope that broadcasters look at this delay not as an inconvenience, but an opportunity to provide support for consumers who need it most,” Sen. Rockefeller added.
After the House approved the legislation on Wednesday, Sen. Rockefeller urged broadcasters to hold back, and put the interest of viewers first.
“I hope that many will think of the needs of their customers and carefully weigh their options,” he said then.

5 Comments

  1. Stations should be allowed to transition if it is their desire. The transition date has been changed several times already and the only problem with those who are not ready is nothing but procrastination.

  2. I hope that most stations do switch off their analog signal in February. The Nielson numbers are inflated and they do not take into account 20 somethings who use the internet for their entertainment and just don’t care about TV. Those that don’t care will never be ‘prepared’, but also will never be hurt by the transition. The elderly, who are constantly named as a group that will be severely hurt, are actually quite ready – according to Nielson’s own numbers. Let’s get this over with and move on. Congress and the White House must have other things to do.

  3. “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”
    Mark Twain

  4. Hey, Bill. The quote’s getting old, bud.
    I am curious about how you felt Congress between 1995 and 2007. Man, they were geniuses back then with their censorship laws, PATRIOT Acts, and the trillion-dollar Iraqi stimulus, weren’t they?

  5. Thurston Last: That was the last duplicate post for the time being… RE: The other stuff, refer to my previous post. 😉

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