Senators seem to be nearing a compromise on delaying the Feb. 17 nationwide transition to digital television by four months.

Republicans on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Friday were considering a new version of a draft bill written by the panel’s chairman, John D. Rockefeller IV , D-W.Va. The rewrite incorporates several provisions that address Republicans’ concerns, said ranking GOP member Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.

The new draft would extend the transition date to June 12. The legislation would allow:

• Television stations to shut down their analog feeds before June 12 to transmit only in digital, with approval of the Federal Communications Commission.

• Consumers with expired government vouchers for digital-to-analog converter boxes to apply for replacement vouchers.

• Public safety users to tap analog spectrum as soon as it is vacated, rather than making first responders wait until June.

Republicans had asked for all three provisions.

Rockefeller also promised not to seek an additional delay beyond the June 12 date set in the bill, Hutchison said.

The deal could break the logjam over the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., last week floated the idea of calling up Rockefeller’s earlier draft and passing it by voice vote, but Republicans resisted that behind-the-scenes effort.

Despite the nearing Feb. 17 deadline, House leaders have been awaiting the Senate’s next move.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman , D-Calif., chairman of the Energy and Commerce panel, cancelled a Wednesday markup of a draft bill similar to Rockefeller’s, blaming the trouble in the Senate.