"While many stations in our area are ready for the switch, the delay of the DTV transition may well cause significant confusion to many viewers. I have spoken with several broadcasters in the Amarillo and Wichita Falls areas and they all intend to go ahead with the switch on February 17,” Congressman Thornberry said.

The DTV Delay Act delays the official transition of television broadcasting from analog to digital to June 12, 2009. Although the bill extends the deadline for consumer coupon requests for analog to digital converter boxes to July 31, 2009, it does not prevent a station from ending analog broadcasting before June 12, 2009.  The delay will jeopardize the use of the spectrum that the transition was supposed to clear for police, firefighter, and other emergency use, putting public safety at risk.