President Expected to Sign into Law this Week

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin joined a majority of House Members in passing (264-158) the DTV Delay Act (S. 352) that will move the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Today’s House vote follows unanimous passage in the Senate and the bill now goes to the President who is expected to sign it quickly into law.

“This legislation responds directly to the needs of many Wisconsinites who, through no fault of their own in many cases, would have lost their TV signal completely on February 18. A delay in making the switch to digital is appropriate and necessary,” Baldwin said.

Without this delay, individuals who do not subscribe to a cable or satellite service, who have not yet purchased an analog to digital converter box, and who are experiencing a delay in receiving the government-issued discount coupon to purchase a box, would have lost all TV service on February 18. As of today, more than 4500 households in south central Wisconsin are on the waiting list for coupons.

The converter box coupon program, administered by The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), provides two $40 coupons to anyone who applies for them, but underfunding has created a waiting list of more than 1.6 million names.

In addition, once issued, these coupons are only good for 90 days. Millions of coupons expired and could not be replaced. Under the new law, people whose coupons had expired will be able to reapply and receive new coupons. These changes, coupled with funds in the expected economic recovery package, will clear the coupon waiting list and get coupons to those who need them in a timely manner.