Digital TV bill approved: Statement by Consumers Union
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 4, 2009 -- The House today voted 264 – 158 in favor of a bill to delay the transition to digital TV from February 17 to June 12.
Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst for Consumers Union, made the following statement today following the House vote:
“Given all of the problems surrounding the switch, a delay is the best choice. It’s a win for consumers. This transition delivers a lot of financial benefits to businesses and government, and consumers should be treated fairly, too. People who are most affected by the transition are among the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and low-income Americans. A four-month delay should provide enough time to address problems like the coupon program. Moving forward, the coupon program should be the first priority, given that there are 3 million requests for coupons sitting on a waiting list.”
