Digital TV: Postponed

So the House of Representatives voted earlier today to postpone the transition to Digital TV until June 12, 2009.  It's not like folks didn't have enough time to get their act together, rather it's all about the Benjamins.

The new administration called for the digital transition to be postponed after the Commerce Department last month hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for coupons that subsidize 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 generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.

So FCC Chairman Michael Copps got his wish.

"The country is not prepared to undertake a nationwide transition in 12 days without unacceptably high consumer dislocation," acting FCC chairman Michael Copps said in a statement. "We've got a lot of work to do, but we now have an opportunity to do it better."