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If broadcast television viewers were having a hard time understanding the switch to digital TV, the events of this week will only add to the confusion.

The federal agency that was distributing coupons to help people pay for converter boxes said earlier this week that it has run out of money and has temporarily suspended the program.

And on Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama asked Congress to delay the conversion, which would end analog television broadcasts on Feb. 17.

As this wrinkle developed, N.C. broadcasters were still campaigning to make sure their valuable viewers will be able to watch television when the switch takes place.

On Jan. 15, North Carolina's broadcasters plan two tests of DTV broadcasts to alert viewers of the conversion and urge them to call a telephone hotline staffed by students at Elon.

"If Congress delays the transition, then that's something we obviously have no say in, but we are not in any way going to let up on our education efforts. It's critical that people not be cut off from television," said Hank Price, the president of WXII in Winston-Salem and of the N.C. Association of Broadcasters.

Price estimates that 10 percent of the viewing audience depends on the airwaves without access to cable or satellite television . Another 35 percent of the audience with satellite TV is likely to have some TV sets that depend on broadcast reception, he said.

Price hopes that all of the state's television stations will broadcast the special test from 6:25 to 6:30 p.m. and from 7:28 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 15

Analog signals will show a message telling viewers that they are not ready for the switch to DTV and need to learn more about it. Digital signals will show a message telling viewers they don't need to do anything.

People with cable, satellite or phone company TV services will continue to get broadcast stations. But those who rely on antennae to watch TV must either get a newer set with a digital receiver or get a digital-to-analog converter box. No-frills versions of those boxes cost between $40 and $70.

To offset the cost, the federal government allocated $1.5 billion to provide households with up to two $40 coupons, all of which have been distributed.

The New York Times News Service contributed to this report.

Contact Richard M. Barron at 373-7371 or richard.barron@news-record.com