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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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9

Obama Wants to Delay Digital TV Switch

Too many people unprepared, he tells Congress in letter

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(Newser) – The push to delay pulling the plug on analog television gained an important convert today: Barack Obama. The president-elect's transition team sent a letter to Congress urging it to push back the Feb. 17 conversion date to all-digital TV, the Los Angeles Times reports. It cited in particular the Commerce Department's announcement that it has no more money left to provide $40 coupons to help people buy converter boxes.

But the letter also said that too many people, many of them poor or elderly, were simply unprepared for the switch. "With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively mandated analog cutoff date," wrote John Podesta, the head of the transition team.

A cable box is seen on top of a television in Philadelphia in this May 30, 2007, file photo.
A cable box is seen on top of a television in Philadelphia in this May 30, 2007, file photo.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file)
President-elect Barack Obama finishes speaking about the economy, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
President-elect Barack Obama finishes speaking about the economy, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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9 comments
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Newser001
Jan 8, 09 7:53 PM CST
Chairman Martin, of the FCC, who facilitated the DTV transition, was an incomptent micro-manigmenet nightmare, incapable of delegating appropriate authority, is a self-centered baboon who was a Bush appointee (what else one could expect; not qualified?) He's History Jan 20, '09 - Thank G-d! Then, the in competent pr*ck is walking the streets, where he belongs, flipping sandwich signs (you just can't believe how much I really love this guy, can yah, huh?!!)! Reply
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Newser001
Jan 8, 09 7:54 PM CST
micromanagement NOT micro-manigmenet (sp)
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slim
Jan 8, 09 8:53 PM CST
Hmmm, let's see.....digital TV vs. world wide financial disaster. Am I missing something? I hope Obama is just resting his brain until the hay really hits the windmill. Reply
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lrm
Jan 8, 09 9:13 PM CST
I think this is actually pretty decent of Obama. The commerce dept. needs to get their act together before people are affected. Reply
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Ryan
Jan 8, 09 11:19 PM CST
OBAMA, now with the ability to turn back time, LAME Reply
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Consumers Union also wants the date pushed back
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