House Rejects DTV Delay -> Senate Repasses Bill Again

The House unexpectedly rejected the delay bill that the Senate had unanimously passed earlier this week. On Thursday night the Senate repassed the same bill. The House will vote again on Wednesday (possibly Tuesday) to accept the Delay. The Obama administration is still backing the delay and the bill will need more than half of the votes in the House to pass. In the last go round the bill was defeated 268-164 (61%), but was introduced as a non controversial bill for expedited passage and needed 2/3 the vote. Unless there are some rather convincing opponents, it looks like the bill will go through this time.

As for The END of TELEVISION-> KEEP SUBMITTING TO THE END, WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN!

JUNE 12th is THE END OF TELEVISION

After a long and hard fought battle, The End managed to convince the Senate to delay the switchover.

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.

Stay tuned for up to date information on developments concerning the scheduled February 17th broadcast.

THE U.S. SENATE IS ANALOG

Senate Republicans Sign On to June DTV Delay

An effort to delay the impending switch to digital TV signals got a boost Thursday night after Senate Republicans agreed to a plan that would push the transition to June 12.

GOP members were initially hesitant to support the delay, blocking consideration of the legislation when it was introduced on January 16. After a little negotiation and some amendments to the bill, however, Republicans are now on board.

GET YOUR COUPONS!
The bill also extends the deadline to apply for a coupon from March 31 to July 31.

Rockefeller stressed that the bill "is not perfect, but it represents a turning point—a start."

"Senator Rockefeller's personal commitment to me to not seek another delay provides needed certainty to bring this transition to a conclusion," Sen. Hutchinson said. "Significant challenges remain, however, and I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure a smooth transition."

"Barring unforeseen emergencies, we should not have another delay," Rockefeller said.

Senate nears deal to delay digital TV transition- S@#*!

Congress did not vote on the 21st as they planned, but instead postponed the vote to delay the switchover. AGH!

The Senate appeared close to agreement late Thursday the 22nd, on a bill to delay next month's planned transition from analog to digital television broadcasting to June 12 — setting the stage for a vote early next week.

Congress is driving The End of Television insane. Get it together congress and vote early next week.

As for submissions, keep them coming in. The original deadline is nearing, but we here at The End will will do our best to include late submissions.

Congress Votes on the End of TV on January 21st

Democratic committee chairmen in both houses of Congress are proposing to delay until June 12 the date for major TV stations to stop sending traditional analog signals. The change is now set for Feb. 17 at midnight.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to vote Jan. 21 on whether to delay the changeover until June 12, the date proposed by Representative Henry Waxman, the California Democrat who heads the committee, aides said today. The bill by Rockefeller, who’s the next chairman of the Commerce Committee, was introduced yesterday and offers the same date.

“Congress is likely to pass some sort of delay, given lawmaker concerns about likely disruptions to some TV viewers and a possible backlash,” said Rebecca Arbogast and David Kaut, analysts at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. in Washington, in a note to investors today.

Obama’s team called on Jan. 8 for postponing the date, citing a funding shortfall a program that subsidizes digital equipment. The program offers $40 coupons toward the cost of converter boxes, which sell for $40 to $80 at retail outlets.

Coupons are mailed out using third-class bulk mail and take four to six weeks to arrive, Podesta said in his letter. He reminded leaders of the Jan. 8 request and said that since then “the situation has only gotten worse.”

Still Accepting Submissions for The Slow Decline of Television

Despite the President-elect’s determination to stop The End of Television, we are still accepting submissions for the February 17th broadcast. In the event that Congress approves the delay, The End of Television will do a second broadcast somewhere down the line. Submit well and submit often!

Obama delays The End of Television...

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 TV with a digital tuner will need the converter boxes to keep their older analog sets working.