• Mediaweek, Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:30 AM

House Republicans are trying to change the minds of a growing chorus of lawmakers and activists who want to delay the Feb. 17 DTV transition. Texas Congressman Joe Barton and 14 other Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce committee say that delaying the deadline would hurt the public safety improvements intended by the transition.

Many Democrats and groups, such as the Consumers Union, maintain that numerous Americans are woefully unprepared for the DTV transition. The matter came to a head last week when the federal bureau that hands out $40 coupons for DTV converter boxes ran out of funding, leaving more than 1 million consumers on waiting lists.

Instead of a delay, Barton and others are working on bipartisan legislation that would allow the government to issue more discount coupons.

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