House Won’t Push Back Digital TV Transition

by Michael O'Brien - 01/28/09 1:06 PM ET

The House of Representatives refused to extend the date by which televisions much switch to digital transmission, leaving in place next month’s February 17th deadline.

Lawmakers fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass a Senate bill that would have postponed the deadline to June 13 of this year. The bill would have also extended the voucher program that subsidizes the converter boxes necessary for television owners to buy.

258 members, mostly Democrats, moved to pass the bill, but 155 Republicans — joined by 13 Democrats — voted to keep the deadline in place.

View the roll call vote here.

The transition is said to enhance the sound and picture quality for television users receiving their signal via antenna.

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