By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-818110.mp3
Dallas, TX – Ranking north Texas Congressman Joe Barton successfully led the fight against delaying the digital TV conversion planned for February 17th. But Democrats say it should pass when it comes up again next week. Barton remains steadfast against delaying the conversion until June. He talked to KERA's Bill Zeeble, by phone from Washington.
Obama officials have said too many Americans lack the converter box necessary to watch TV after next month's digital conversion deadline. According to the TV researcher Nielsen, 6 and a half million people aren't ready yet. And North Texans are among the least ready in the country. But Texas Representative Joe Barton, ranking Republican on the House Commerce Committee, doesn't buy the Nielsen number
. Congressman Joe Barton: That's a bogus number. It's an estimate, it's not based on a hard count. The number I've seen, is that most of those homes have cable or satellite TV or some converter boxes.
Barton says a delay will confuse consumers, & cost TV stations who'll have to broadcast both analog and digital signals. What's more, local police and fire departments won't get to use those analog signals. Barton says even if Congress votes to wait until June, people will still fail to get ready. It's human nature.
Barton: How many times you want to delay it? now we say 3-4 months. we get close to that there'll be another panick attack or could be. I think we're better off to go ahead and move forward.
Barton has co-authored a bill to pay for more converter box discount coupons where needed. But many Democrats say the deadline extension will best serve consumers.