House Panel Unveils Digital TV Draft Bill

Drew Clark writes:  "Less than a day after the Senate Commerce Committee passed legislation setting a “hard date” for the transition from analog to digital TV broadcasts, House Energy and Commerce leaders circulated a draft of their version of the legislation -- with sources saying a committee vote on the measure is likely next Wednesday.  ¶  The latest House draft retains the Dec. 31, 2008, fixed deadline for the end of analog broadcasting that was included in an earlier draft floated last spring by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas. By comparison, the Senate Commerce Committee bill put the deadline three months later – at April 7, 2009.  ¶  The Senate date is designed to avoid any disruption in TV viewing until after that year’s New Year’s Day bowl games and “March Madness” – the college basketball championships. Once the transition to digital TV broadcasts takes place, households without digital television sets or cable or satellite service will need a “converter box” to receive digital signals on an analog set. ..."  Link:  National Journal.