Senate passes new digital TV delay bill

WASHINGTON (KRQE) - The Senate has again passed a bill delaying the digital TV transition date to June 12, according to a television trade magazine.

Broadcasting and Cable reports the bill passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. It next heads to the House, which could begin debating it as early as Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), includes some changes from a similar bill that was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Among the changes, according to the magazine, is language that would also allow consumers to re-apply for digital TV converter box coupons if they were unable to redeem them because of natural disaster, retail or mail issues.

Under the current coupon program, each household can only apply for the coupons once. The coupons expire 90 days after they're mailed.

Current laws will require full-power television stations like KRQE, KREZ, KBIM and KASA to shut down traditional analog broadcasts on Feb. 17 and broadcast only in a digital format.

The Nielsen Company, using information it gathered while installing People Meters to measure television viewing, said 6.5 million households nationwide who rely on over-the-air television aren't prepared for the transition.

Nielsen said the Albuquerque-Santa Fe media market is the least prepared market. The market includes all of New Mexico except Dona Ana County, plus parts of southwestern Colorado and northeastern Arizona.

The transition does not affect low-power stations or translators, which are used to relay television signals to areas outside where larger stations' main transmissions can reach. It also does not affect televisions connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV services.

Opponents of the delay said it would burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the radio spectrum that would be vacated by the switchover, and create added costs for television stations who would have to continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more months.