House Fails to Pass DTV Delay Bill

According to a Reuters report, the House of Representatives failed to pass a measure on Wednesday which would delay the switch to digital television signals by about four months.

The legislation, which passed the Senate and has the backing of President Obama, failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority needed under the special rules adopted for the vote.

Under the version that passed the Senate, licenses for $16 billion worth of spectrum freed up by the switch and purchased by AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications would be extended by about four months.

Consumer groups have led the effort to delay the switch to June 12 from Feb. 17, due to worries that poor, elderly, and rural citizens won't be ready for the switch.

"It's really unfortunate," said Joel Kelsey, an analyst at Consumers Union. "Consumers are staring at a big, fat, unfunded mandate in the midst of an economic crisis."

Over one million people are on a waiting list for government coupons, worth $40 to subsidize the cost of converter boxes needed for older televisions. The agency running the program ran out of coupons earlier this month.

Democrats may try again next week but this time, amendments may be allowed and only a simple majority would be required to pass. If the House approves any changes, the bill would have to return to the Senate for final passage.