America is not ready
The
US Senate is about to delay next month's planned transition from analog to
digital television broadcasting to June 12.
While Republicans blocked
Democratic efforts to automatically push back the February 17 deadline for the
analog shutoff, Democrats are worried that too many Americans have not got
digital decoders.
Statistics show that more than 6.5 million U.S. households
are still not prepared for the upcoming transition. A bill on delaying the
switch over will have to go before the house and be voted on. The Democrats
have a majority and it will almost certainly pass.
The Democrats have made
changes in the bill that will appease the Republicans so it will probably be
fast tracked through the Senate process.