Klobuchar Statement on House DTV Vote
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement today regarding the House vote on legislation to delay the transition to digital television (DTV). On Monday night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by Klobuchar and U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller to delay the upcoming digital television transition.
"The House vote today risks millions of Americans being without television on February 18 - the day after the transition. I'm proud that the Senate chose to find a bipartisan solution that put consumers first, and I hope the House will do the same.
"Unfortunately, after guarantees that the Bush Administration would adequately prepare and protect consumers, only at the last minute did they reveal that funding has run out - just weeks before the plug is pulled on analog TV. While the digital TV transition should happen, this delay is necessary to make up for the lack of preparation and regrettable mismanagement of the transition on the part of the Bush Administration."