Reasons why the proposed delay for the DTV transition on Feb. 17 is a bad idea:

1. A large number of stations already have tower crews contracted for antenna work tied into the 2/17 shutdown date. Tower crews are already in very short supply, and can’t just be rescheduled at will.

2. Analog transmitters use lots of electricity. Station budgets are already tight, and were figured on the assumption that, as federal law required, the analog transmitters would be shut off on 2/17. Who’ll pay the bills for the analog transmitters after that?

3. Broadcasters have made huge promotional efforts centering on the 2/17 deadline. Now they’re supposed to just say “oh, never mind” to all those people whose attention we fought so hard to win?

4. Many of the frequencies being vacated by analog TV stations already have new occupants. Think they’ll be thrilled about having to wait another few months to a year to get the remaining stations on those channels cleared away?

5. Many analog signals have already cleared out. Many of those stations made the judgment call to go dark on analog somewhat early on the premise that it was only “somewhat” early…and that the rest of the analogs would be following suit in a matter of just a few weeks.

6. The FCC’s already-limited staff is being swamped beyond belief by the sudden need to authorize potentially hundreds of STAs for nightlight operation.  The FCC won’t be happy to find out that all that haste was for naught – and neither will broadcasters who are spending money on consulting engineers to file rush applications for nightlight authorizations.