The digital TV switch may be delayed till June this year if new legislation released Thursday gets approved.

West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the new chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, introduced legislation that may postpone the transition till June 12 from Feb. 17.

I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition, Mr. Rockefeller said in a statement.

The Commerce Department reported last week that it was short on funds for a government coupon program to reimburse customers who will lose their TV signals after the switch.

There are currently over two million people who are now on a waiting list for the $40 coupons for digital converter boxes, which mostly retail from $50 to $80.

Republican Sen. John McCain also said that he would not oppose a short delay.

While I agree with many others than an extension of this well-publicized cutoff date may only serve to confuse consumers, I would not oppose a very short extension of less than 120 days, provided that public safety's ability to access this spectrum is not delayed and will be made available on Feb. 17, the Arizona senator said.

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