The United States Senate approved a budget reconciliation bill that includes legislation to transform up to 80 million television sets from conduits of entertainment and information into useless, dust-collecting boxes on February 17, 2009.

The bill, which also includes legislation that covers federal healthcare policy and student loans, sets the timetable for the switchover of TV transmission from a digital-analog mix to all-digital signals.

The legislation, which passed the Senate on Wednesday, also makes available up to $1.4 billion to help the estimated 21 million U.S. households that depend on over-the-air, analog TV signals. The money will go toward vouchers for the affected families to buy converter boxes that would allow them to continue enjoying the use of their TV sets after the switchover occurs.

The budget reconciliation bill, which focuses on cuts in government spending, required the vote of Vice President Dick Cheney to break a 50-50 tie in the Senate.

The bill passed the Senate Committee and then the House of Representatives by a fairly easy margin on Monday, but it must go back to the House because of changes made to the bill in the Senate.

A number of consumer groups have opposed the overall bill on the grounds that it unfairly burdens consumers, particularly low-income families, minorities, and the elderly (see Consumers Rip Digital TV Law).

But while measures that change federal healthcare policy or student loan programs seem for most like business as usual in WashingtonD.C., the thought of the household TV going dark gets the attention of the U.S. public on a visceral level (see Senate Tackles Digital TV).

More Money Demanded for Switch

Anticipating this reaction, legislators have earmarked $5 million for public education on the effects of the switch to all-digital signals. However, a number of consumer groups have challenged the amount of money set aside for converter boxes and education as far too little.

“The digital television compensation program established by this bill is… unworkable and unacceptable for consumers,” said Gene Kimmelman, senior director of public policy and advocacy for Consumers Union. “The bill provides only a fraction of the funds needed to compensate consumers for the costs of a government-mandated digital transition that they never asked for.”

Mr. Kimmelman also calls the procedure set up by the legislation whereby consumers are required to request $40 vouchers from the government restrictive and unfair. Consumers will be allowed a period of time to make their requests, after which the program will be unavailable.

“It… requires consumers to jump through restrictive hoops to obtain the limited compensation provided in the bill… and limiting the window of time during which such vouchers are available,” said Mr. Kimmelman. “The result will be those who most need the compensation are least likely to receive it.”