Senate Panel Backs Off Digital TV Deadline

The Senate Commerce Committee decided against setting a hard deadline for television broadcasters to air only digital signals but did provide for some aid to help viewers see them.

The lawmakers eliminated a provision that would have set a 2009 deadline for broadcasters to shut off their existing signals and air only in digital.

The measure was amended to include the possibility of turning over some airwaves used by broadcasters to public safety organizations as early as 2008, but only if that did not disrupt consumers and the airwaves were needed.