The U.S. switch to digital television signals will be delayed four months until June under legislation that cleared Congress on Wednesday and now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature into law. President Obama has said he will sign into law.

The law will require TV stations to keep broadcasting their analog signals until June 12. The original law that set the Feb. 17 deadline also allowed stations to make the switch early. Some already have -- 143 of the nation’s approximately 1,800 stations have made the transition, and 60 more plan to do it before Feb. 17, according to the FCC.

Broadcasters had opposed the extension, grumbling that it would cost them $22 million to air both analog and digital programs for an extra four more months. So FCC will allow stations to can turn off their analog transmmision before June 12th by seeking federal approval.

Airwaves to be vacated by television broadcasters after the switch were purchased mostly by AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc in an auction that raised about $19 billion for the U.S. government. Both companies agreed to a short one-time delay and their licenses will be extended under the bill.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/autoNe...5136YP20090204