Obama: Delay switchover to digital TV

Good move, Mr. President-elect:

President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, arguing that too many Americans who rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air channels won't be ready.

In a letter to key lawmakers Thursday, Obama transition team co-chair John Podesta noted that the Commerce Department has run out of money for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. People who don't have cable or satellite service or a new TV with a digital tuner will need the converter boxes to keep their older analog sets working.

Obama officials are also concerned that the government is not doing enough to help consumers — particularly poor, rural and elderly Americans — prepare for and navigate the transition.

The February 17th, 2009 cutoff of analog broadcasts has been poorly planned and executed. News reports and research by consumer groups suggests we're simply not ready to flip the switch to digital in February. Congress needs to push back the deadline to allow more time for the transition away from analog.