U.S. Congress Urged to Postpone Digital Transition

WASHINGTON, D.C., January
8: A U.S. consumers advocacy group is calling on Congress to delay the analogue
switch-off this February "until a plan is in place to minimize the number
of consumers who will lose TV signals."

Consumers Union, the
nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, wants a postponement of the February 17 transition to
digital TV, citing flaws in the federal coupon program that subsidizes
converter boxes. The program offers $40 towards the purchase of a box, which
retail for between $50 and $80. The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration recently announced that funding for the program had run out. As
such, the Consumers Union says, hundreds of consumers are being added to a
waiting list every day. Those who cannot receive subsidies are being told to
pay for a box themselves, or sign up for a digital cable or satellite service.

In a letter addressed to
Henry A. Waxman, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and
Edward J. Markey, the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications
and the Internet, the Consumers Union notes: "Millions of consumers could
now be forced to spend their own money to navigate this federally mandated transition.
This economic climate is not the right time to ask consumers to dig deeper into
their own pockets to pay for the miscalculation by the federal
government."

Noting that the FCC is
offering up $8.4 million in grants to 12 organizations to assist consumers in
the transition, the letter adds that the organization is "concerned the
timing and level of funding for on-the-ground education is inadequate."
The Consumers Union letter also compares the U.S. situation to that of the
U.K., which "is spending close to $400 million to educate a population
one-fifth the size of the U.S. about its digital broadcast transition."

The letter goes on to
express concerns about the FCC call center that is fielding questions about the
transition. "We are confident that with some additional time and
expeditious planning the federal government can put a strategy in place to
ensure that all these calls will be handled appropriately."

The letter concludes:
"With February 17 only 40 days away, we are concerned that millions of at-risk
consumers, including rural, low-income and elderly citizens across the country
could be left with blank television screens. Consumers have fewer resources
than ever to buy the necessary equipment to regain access to essential news,
information and emergency broadcasts. Against this backdrop, Congress should
consider delaying the digital transition so the significant flaws in the
converter box coupon program can be adequately addressed and sufficient local
assistance put in place to help millions of consumers who are being forced
navigate this transition."

—By Mansha Daswani