The transition from analog-to-digital television is slated to take place on February 17th, 2009. But President-elect Obama’s transitional team is recommending a delay in the switch on the grounds that the funds supporting the change are inadequate. The concern is that several million households in the United States are unprepared for the switch (see an example video after the jump), while the funding for digital converter coupons has run out. Those analog televisions currently receiving a signal over the airwaves that are not hooked up to a digital converter will lose their signal. The recommendation for a delayed transition shows a commendable interest on the part of the Obama team for equality of access to media resources.
In the meantime, Obama’s inaugural comittee has sold the exclusive rights to broadcast the inauguration celebrations next week to HBO. For the duration of the inaugural events, HBO will be available to all cable and satillite subscribers, whether or not they subscribe to HBO. Democracy!
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