Consumer confusion will be the major problem stemming from the delay, said Michael King, general manager of Channel 10 WILX, in Lansing, which will make the switch Feb. 17.

“A billion dollars were spent to advertise the campaign to make sure everyone knew about the transition,” he said. “Now, a few stations are still changing on the 17th, more are going on June 12 and others between.”

President Barack Obama’s proposal to extend the deadline for transition has passed Congress and is awaiting his signature. The action comes on the heels of the $1.34 billion convertor box coupon system running out of money, with 3 million people still on the waiting list. The coupon system was created to help citizens pay for the converter box that is needed for some older televisions to be compatible with digital signals.

Last week, Congress authorized additional funding for the coupons. The delay until June will allow more citizens to take advantage of the coupons.

“A lot of lower-income families were having trouble with the switch … but now (the government) has had enough time to get the program back up,” said Johannes Bauer, professor of telecommunication, information studies and media.

The transition to digital signals is being made to open up more expansive communication systems for both private and consumer uses.

“(Digital signals) can be better configured than those signals already in use,” Bauer said. “Unfortunately consumers will not have access to new mobile services now because of the delay.”

But some have warned that delaying the transition could harm communications among emergency responders.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, expressed concern in a press release about the inabilities for emergency response systems to communicate.

“Delaying (the transition) will cause some problems in delaying the expanded radio waves for emergency workers,” said Sylvia Warner, Rogers’ spokeswoman.

“Emergency personnel across America have radio equipment that will not communicate with responders in other communities or with state and national first responders.”

East Lansing police and fire departments upgraded their systems several months ago, officials said.

The transition will ensure responders can communicate, Warner said.

Many students, most of who already own TVs that are compatible with digital signals, said they aren’t concerned about the delay.

“It won’t affect any of us directly. All of our TVs are hooked up to cable,” marketing sophomore Ian Scime said.

“The only people I can see it affecting are people way out in rural areas still using bunny ear antennas.”