An interesting bit of news today.  As many know, the digital conversion from analog television is scheduled to take place on February 17th in the United States.  All analog transmissions will be shut down at midnight.

However…there is a problem (because nothing ever goes smoothly).  The NTIA and the Department of Commerce have run into a cash shortage with respect to providing consumers coupons for the digital to analog set top converters, which has created a backlog of approximately 1.1 million customers.  These set top boxes allow analog tv sets to display digital signals, and are necessary due to the fact that once the digital conversion occurs, these televisions will cease to function otherwise.  The coupons offer $40.00 off the price of these boxes, which typically run anywhere from $45.00 to $80.00. 

Furthermore, there is a shortage of the boxes on the market.  People cannot find these units (amusingly enough, they are all manufactured in China), and therefore are unable to purchase them.

As a result, the incoming Obama administration has asked Congress to mandate a law postponing the digital conversion.  Republicans do not want to change the date, and neither do some Democrats.  We shall see what occurs in the next few weeks as the date becomes closer and closer.