a lot of our tv's are becoming obsolete sooner than planned-House backs quicker digital TV switch plan

November 19, 2005 9:15 AM PST
The House of Representatives on Friday backed a plan to require TV broadcasters to switch to all-digital transmissions by December 2008, which is three months earlier than they would under provisions of a Senate bill, according to a story by The Associated Press.
As part of a sweeping budget bill, the House also voted to set aside $830 million to help millions of Americans with older, analog TV sets pay for converter boxes so they'll continue to get service in the digital era, according to the story.
The deadline for the switch in the Senate bill is April 7, 2009--after the March Madness college basketball playoffs. Now it's up to House and Senate negotiators to work out differences between the two bills.