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Klobuchar Praises President Obama for Signing DTV Delay Legislation into Law

February 11, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama signed into law bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) that will delay the upcoming digital television (DTV) transition until June 12, 2009.  The delay will allow consumers to properly prepare for the transition and gives the incoming Obama Administration the time to make sure that no Americans are left behind.

“I thank President Obama for signing this bill.  For the sake of millions of Americans, we need to do a better job with this transition.  This legislation ensures that consumers have time to adequately prepare for the transition to digital television, which is especially important for Minnesota consumers since more than 21 percent of our households depend exclusively on over-the-air broadcast TV.   

“After guarantees that the Bush Administration would adequately prepare and protect consumers, in their last days in office, they revealed that funding had run out – and millions could be without coupons, converter boxes and television.  While the digital TV transition should happen, a delay is necessary to make up for the lack of preparation on the part of the previous Administration.”

For more details about the digital television transition, visit: http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

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