January 28th, 2009 
joel The AP reports that House Republicans led an effort to defeat a bill this afternoon that would delay the transition to digital television. The vote was 258-168, short of the two-thirds vote needed to pass.
Republicans claimed that a delay would confuse consumers, and put an undue burden on broadcasters and those companies waiting for the spectrum that will be released by the switch to DTV.
The story sports an often quoted statistic from Nielsen which estimates that 6.5 million American households are not ready for the digital transition, however that stat has been disputed.
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For the record, Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D) voted Yea on the bill to delay the DTV transition date.
Dahlkemper is a day late, Al.
The bill to postpone the DTV date was introduced and passed in the Senate (S328). It had 8 cosponsors to delay.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:SN00328:@@@P
PA Senator Bob Casey was not an idle voter thinking about it. He COSPONSORED the delay (1 of 8 people in the land to do so). It was introduced and oassed (to delay) and sent to the House.
Coupons are already expiring, since there is a nondisputable lack of converters to buy.
There is no means test to get the $40 coupon (2 can be ordered). Given the multitude of bills underway, the discussion included older folks need their money for basics (of which cable TV is not one), while Bill Gates types can easily afford the converters if they are ever produced.
A means test was one of the reasons for delay, coupled with not enough converter boxes manufacturered and in stores.
This appears to be more of a partisan sand-in-the-line drawing, and muscle flexing on procedures (by Republicans) than any actual need.
Repulicans are quick to point out the Dems who voted NO and want no delay to DTV.
They are silent in noting MORE than twice as many Reps voted Yes to delay.
In terms of Erie, PA, it is critical that the spectrums opened up by DTV being a done deal (whether installed, converters available, coupon crap, whatever) will allow those same spectrums to be available for Broadband Wireless……a critical need for business to locate here. There is not enough band width available to implement until we cut a DTV date and switch.
Clear pictures are nice and make us happy.
Broadband Wireless will get us business, and hence, jobs. Nothing can be done until the mandated date arrives.
Also to note, 93% of the populous wants passage of Feb 17th date left alone, while 7% want to reexamine for varied reasons.
Last, Dahlkemper has been busy on Children’s Insurance being extended, making stimulous infrastructure out of US made Ore/Steel, postponing ANY congressional wage increase until at least 2010, and Equality in Wages, and 4 other vital programs.
She is not just sitting there growing a mustache.