(I can't believe you've been modded +3 interesting.)
Hahaha...I thought the same thing. However, I think it's good that it is being modded up, so people can see the entire discourse between him and everyone else, it seems.
The original bill didn't require analog stations to stay on until June either.
(if the link breaks, try this PDF link)
See Sec. 4, paragraph (a) which states in part: "Nothing in this Act is intended to prevent a licensee of a television broadcast station from terminating the broadcasting of such station's analog television signal (and continuing to broadcast exclusively in the digital television service) prior to the date established by law under section 3002(b) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 for termination of all licenses for full-power television stations in the analog television service (as amended by section 2 of this Act) so long as such prior termination is conducted in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission's requirements in effect on the date of enactment of this Act,.."
(typical government wordiness)
What it means is that before this bill was introduced, stations could sign off their analogs before Feb. 17th upon giving 30 days notice to the FCC and the viewers. Should the bill pass into law, paragraph (a) ensures they can still sign off before June 12th, again provided they give 30 days notice.
Several hundred stations have already given such notice. Including most of the major-network affiliates in Nashville, New Orleans, and Wichita among other cities.
The proposed new bill (PDF version) contains the same paragraph.
Is there a list of stations that have given their switch notice?
The stations around here have all been covering the changeover as news stories for months now, including explaining what to do to be able to keep watching. I assume it's the same elsewhere.
Overlay banners are annoying. Especially if they would run 24x7
Why not do this for a week, or three days? It seems it would be in the interest of the local station, to insure that their viewers know what steps they must take to see the station. Or, maybe have a repeating 20 minute informercial that actually walks through the steps of making the transition?
So you think that money is the root of all evil. Have you ever asked what is the root of money? -- Ayn Rand