Chair of Obama transition calls for digital TV delay

Congress should delay the Feb. 17 switch to digital television because the nation, especially many rural viewers, are unlikely to be prepared for it, President-elect Barack Obama's transition co-chairman told congressional leaders in a letter today.

John Podesta cited the new waiting list for $40 federal coupons for digital converter boxes and "problems with the government's effort to educate the public about the switch and help prepare people, particularly the elderly, poor and those living in rural areas," report Jim Puzzanghera and Christi Parsons of the Tribune Co. Washington Bureau.

"Podesta said in the letter that 1 million requests are on the waiting list and the number could climb to more than 5 million by early February," Tribune reports. "Obama supports waiving federal rules to allow the Commerce Department to start sending out more coupons' rather than waiting for coupons already issued to expire." He also plans to include more money for the coupon program in his stimulus package; broadcasters favor that instead of a delay. They "have spent billions of dollars preparing for the transition and are eager to turn off their old analog signals." But Consumers Union favors a delay, "and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), the incoming head of a House subcommittee with oversight over telecommunications, said Thursday that he is considering a delay." (Read more)