The Senate voted Monday to delay the nationwide switch to digital TV signals, reports Reuters. It gives consumers nearly four more months, until June 12th, to prepare.
The bill to delay the switchover was fueled by worries that viewers are not ready for the congressionally-mandated switch-over. The government ran out of $40 coupons earlier this month, and about 2.5 million Americans are on a waiting list for them.
It also would allow consumers with expired coupons to request new coupons to buy converter boxes.
Senate Commerce Chairman John Rockefeller said delaying the TV switch is the right thing to do.
Many lawmakers worry that an estimated 20 million mostly poor, elderly and rural households are not ready for the switch. Momentum had been building for a delay since President Barack Obama backed it earlier this month.
The digital TV bill also would extend the licenses of AT&T and Verizon, which are waiting for the airwaves to be vacated when all TVs convert. The companies paid $16 billion for the public airwaves in an auction last year. They will get 116 extra days on their licenses under the proposed legislation.
The action now moves to the House Commerce Committee, where Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif) has vowed to bring up the Senate bill up for a floor vote on Tuesday.
