The switch to digital television is certainly needed, but some argue that now is not the moment and that the government has underestimated the total costs of this maneuver. Also, the program reimbursing the money for the TV Converter Box, has suddenly been closed as it ran out of money.

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.

The problem is that during the switch many might be in the dark, with no television from which to receive entertainment and information. This might sound exaggerated, but there are a lot of people who rely mostly on their TV sets for a connection with the outside world.

 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.