Obama’s transition team has asked Congress to postpone the switch from analog TV to digital, claiming that there is "insufficient support" for the problems consumers will experience during the shut-off of analog signals.

 The problem is that some Americans, mostly those living in the country side and senior citizens, rely mainly on television for entertainment and news. The switch supposes that some of them will be completely shut off from receiving any kind of TV broadcast. The transition team said congressional action is needed and they’ve sent a letter to Capitol Hill to ask for help in this issue.

On the other hand the switch to digital television is needed as the rather old analog system cannot cope any longer with the current pace television is moving.

Those having digital TV sets or are subscribed to cable won’t be shut off during the switch. The request for a delay comes 41 days before the government-mandated switch to all-digital broadcasts, which requires the nation's full-powered television stations to permanently shut off the traditional analog signals they have used for more than half a century.

Other bad news is that the $40 coupons people should receive for the cost of converter boxes have run out of money. This means that those needing the money won’t get them in time for the switch having to spend the money out from their own pockets.

Congress allocated $1.34 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to distribute converter box coupons.