By Reuters | December 20, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The House yesterday approved legislation to complete the US transition to new, higher-quality digital television by Feb. 17, 2009, and to help consumers pay for the equipment needed to ensure their old televisions do not go dark.

Under a deal negotiated by Republicans in the House and Senate, up to $1.5 billion would be available to help some people buy converter boxes to keep their analog-signal televisions working when the transition is finished.

They agreed upon a compromise date that avoids some major televised sporting events such as the annual football Super Bowl in January but would fall before the ''March Madness" annual college basketball tournament.

The compromise is part of a larger bill aimed at cutting government spending over the next five years, which was narrowly approved by the House and awaits Senate action.

Current law requires stations to switch to airing only digital broadcasts when 85 percent of the country can receive the new signals, or by Dec. 31, 2006, whichever comes later. Experts have said that could take a long time, prompting lawmakers to seek a more certain date. Congress is eager for broadcasters to give up the analog airwaves, some of which will be sold for commercial wireless services. Lawmakers earmarked almost $7.4 billion of the likely proceeds to go toward deficit reduction.

The Senate previously had approved a $3 billion converter box fund and set the date as April 7, 2009, for when TV stations must end analog broadcasts. The House originally backed a $990 million fund and Dec. 31, 2008, as the date.
Broadcasters estimate there are 73 million television sets in US homes that rely on over-the-air broadcasts. Boxes that would convert digital signals back into analog could cost roughly $50. The converter box program would offer up to two $40 coupons to each household.

New York Times