Analog Cutoff Looking Increasingly Less Likely in '06

Key congressional lawmakers are increasingly vocalizing their opposition to an end of 2006 cutoff of analog broadcasting, leaving an extension of that deadline to 2007 or beyond as the most viable option. Senator Conrad Burns of Montana told the National Association of Broadcasters convention this week that he has to protect the citizens of his state who utilize over-the-air antennas to receive free broadcast programming but haven't yet upgraded to digital TV/HDTV. According to Multichannel News, Senator Burns also said that he doesn't see much support in the Senate for a hard cutoff date next year. Reps. Greg Walden of Oregon and Eliot Engel of New York echoed Sen. Burns' sentiments, with Rep. Walden saying that "“I don’t want to be the one in my office on New Year’s Day of 2007 when everybody starts calling saying, ‘Why did you turn off my TV?"

In contrast, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who chairs the House Energy & Commerce Committee and is leading the charge for a 2006 analog cutoff, told the NAB gathering that he doubts opponents of his soon-to-be-introduced legislation have enough votes to block its passage. Rep. Barton did say that he would be open to extending the deadline as long as it wasn't several years down the road.