Bill to Delay Digital TV Switchover: Defeated

Amen. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28896344/]

Defeated with a vote of 258-168, the bill to postpone the switchover to June 12 as opposed to Feb 17th was nixed on the floor of the House.

The defeat is a setback for the administration of President Barack Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans won't be ready for next month's analog shut-off. The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not prepared for the transition. People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will not be affected.

Allow me to interject here, but it's motherfucking 2009. Too God damned bad.

PEEP THIS THO! The Democrats hold 257 seats in the House, the Republicans hold 178.

Yet the Republicans are touting this as "their victory" and one "against the Obama Administration."

Really now? Even after a landslide election, they're holding on to the notion that they can take sole credit for ANYTHING passing on the floor? You mean to tell me that House Republicans are implying that they pulled this win by their own volition? This is part of the Cancer that's Killing Republicans (RepCAN for short).

Way back when, this was the reasoning for the initial bill:

Congress in 2005 required broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals, which are more efficient, to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum to be used for commercial services and interoperable emergency-response networks.

However, it was (understandably) due to budget constraints that it was proposed for an extention.

But the Obama administration called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department earlier this month hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. The coupon program allows consumers to request up to two $40 vouchers per household to help pay for the boxes, which translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs. The boxes generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the arm of the Commerce Department administering the program, is now sending out new coupons only as older, unredeemed ones reach a 90-day expiration date and free up more money. The NTIA had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list last week and those people will not receive their coupons before Feb. 17.

Now, I like to see myself as being tech savvy, I really do. The whole notion that there are people in America who won't have access to Analog TV doesn't depress me. I've used Analog before. It sucks. Whoop de friggin dee, I get 10 channels.

I want to know who was arguing for this extension? What the hell were they saying?

Now I can watch bad ABC reruns at 1 in the morning. I totally could use some more Will and Grace. And Lord knows I haven't seen every episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

You can't even watch Nick at Night with Analog.

All in all, I'm glad that the bill wasn't passed. Good job, House of Representatives. It seems you ARE relevant. Not so good job House Republicans taking all the credit. Shame, shame on you.