Obama Urges Delay of Digital Transition

Seriously?

President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, arguing that too many Americans who rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air channels won’t be ready.

In a letter to key lawmakers Thursday, Obama transition team co-chair John Podesta said the digital transition needs to be delayed largely because the Commerce Department has run out of money for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. People who don’t have cable or satellite service or a new TV with a digital tuner will need the converter boxes to keep their older analog sets working.

Obama officials are also concerned that the government is not doing enough to help Americans — particularly those in rural, poor or minority communities — prepare for and navigate the transition.

Meanwhile, media companies, cable providers, etc. have already committed billions of dollars to the transition.  They have hired people, lined up resources to handle questions, ordered extra phone lines, and on and on and on - all of which will be wasted by delaying the transition that’s only a few weeks out.  Sorry, but this has been delayed again and again.  If you haven’t gotten your act together by now, turn on the radio.