Why Is It Such a Big Deal? (digg TV related)

So, I just read that the switch to digital TV has been moved out to June from February. I mean, i don't understand why it is such a huge deal that the Senate has to get involved to keep it happening right away. Is there something I'm missing? Worse case scenerio that I can imagine is that some people out there will just get static when they turn on their TV. And if that's the case, so what? It's not like people weren't given advance notice.

Any thoughts?

The current change I heard is you will be forced to change over at the June whatever date, the February date is when you can start changing over.

The boxes typically only cost about 10 bucks, and the government has vouchers that will cover the cost.

Many people are having a problem with the move because the current airwaves are going to be taken up for other means which is why I would suspect many stations will go ahead and to the flip ASAP as they have made agreements to trade then.

I remember when I first heard about the bill by first thought was that's plenty of time, and it has been. I do wonder if this is just really more 'publicity' to further get the information out to people.

The big deal is that companies have spent billions of dollars on the RF spectrum that was supposed to be opened up by the switch to digital TV which is why the Senate is involved.

The other side of the deal is the sheer number of people who would be left without any means of seeing a television signal which is used for a wide variety of public safety systems out there (you know those annoying "tests of the public broadcast system").

However, I agree that by now it should have been done and there should not have been any additional pushback.

Originally Posted by wyldman11

The boxes typically only cost about 10 bucks, and the government has vouchers that will cover the cost.

Not true. The boxes cost from $50.00 to $80.00. The vouchers are only good for $40.00.

I am swaying toward the OP. This has been talked about for over a year, maybe even two. How much preparation do people need? Christmas comes around every year, and no one (who celebrates it) needs extra time to prepare for it.

Originally Posted by Moondrake

Not true. The boxes cost from $50.00 to $80.00. The vouchers are only good for $40.00.

I actually knew that, most of the ads I have seen recently are being stupid and listing price after rebate, just a recent flyer said 10 so brain got influenced by the wrong numbers.

Which as a forewarning to anyone looking at flyers be sure to read the fine print on the costs.

And for those here who don't know what this is all about http://www.dtv.gov/

Ok, it's all a little clearer now. It's just that the media eluded to the issue being that people wouldn't be able to watch TV starting that day because they didn't get around to upgrading.

*sarcasm* OMG! What will people in the US do without TV??? *sarcasm* Wasn't there a Simpsons episode on this? You know, where kids actually went outside and played again because TV didn't work?

I didn't see the need to have vouchers. People just need to move with the times. If you can't upgrade at this time then you can still listen to the news on the radio or pick up a newspaper.

I dont' understand what the delay is for...but you can't expect people to just change with the times. They are paying for this service. They bought the television and whatever else was needed to make it work. You'd be pretty angry if you bought a HD tv then everyone said oh yeah, we're not doing HD anymore. get with the times!

However, I'm pretty sick of hearing about this....so it should've been taking care of by now. I feel like they've bene tlaking about this as long as the presidential election. we had no problem making that adjustment.

Originally Posted by Lord Eternos

You'd be pretty angry if you bought a HD tv then everyone said oh yeah, we're not doing HD anymore. get with the times!

No, it is just called life. They don't make a lot of cassette tapes anymore either. We didn't offer vouchers to upgrade to cd players. Or to reimburse you for that pesky 8-track player. I don't care if it was a mandate to switch over to digital or not... people should just buy the box.

radio would probably be more of an appropriate analogy, but still fails. It isn't exactly about quality of signal but a matter of stations etc sending out more then one signal a digital and an analog signal. With this change the analog is being freed up, it would be like if all radio stations were transmitting in the AM and FM bands.

it's not quite the same thing, cassettes and 8 tracks didn't die out because the government decided to kill them off. people will always object to being forced to shell out $ to keep doing what they've done for cheaper or for free. it would be like a govt imposed tax on taking public transportation. if you take the bus then starting march you'll have to lose $10 more per paycheque on top of having to pay for tickets - which we are raising the price of as well. Reason, we're upgrading to bigger buses.

it won't sit well with people even if they get to sit well on the bus.

Originally Posted by TheShadow

No, it is just called life. They don't make a lot of cassette tapes anymore either. We didn't offer vouchers to upgrade to cd players. Or to reimburse you for that pesky 8-track player. I don't care if it was a mandate to switch over to digital or not... people should just buy the box.

Well said. It's not the government's job to improve your life. Even if i make the upgrade with a new TV, or a converter box, I'm still not gonna watch a lot of TV because the majority of what's out there is crap. Also, people seem to think that TV is a right rather than a privilege simple because they've become so addictive to in most of their lives.

One of the reasons for the delay is because the card vouchers expire not too long after they arrive to you in the mail. During the time when majority of people recieved theirs, stores were out of stock, so their cards ended up expiring before they could be used. Right now, stores have alot of the boxes, but the cards are already expired for those people, so the delay gives them time to get them replaced.

Originally Posted by Chaz-Man

One of the reasons for the delay is because the card vouchers expire not too long after they arrive to you in the mail. During the time when majority of people recieved theirs, stores were out of stock, so their cards ended up expiring before they could be used. Right now, stores have alot of the boxes, but the cards are already expired for those people, so the delay gives them time to get them replaced.

that's just stupid. if the transition was supposed to be in february, why didn't they just make ALL the vouchers expire in february?

That is just poor planning in the first place. The expiration date should have been March 1st, 2009 that would have given people time to get even if they were dragging their feet.

Originally Posted by Chaz-Man

One of the reasons for the delay is because the card vouchers expire not too long after they arrive to you in the mail. During the time when majority of people recieved theirs, stores were out of stock, so their cards ended up expiring before they could be used. Right now, stores have alot of the boxes, but the cards are already expired for those people, so the delay gives them time to get them replaced.

That happened to me. I tried to use my cards, and tried again, and they never had anything in stock. I finally worked it out so I'd pay for it before they expired and then pick them up when they came in.

That'll teach me to try to take care of matters well in advance.

Originally Posted by mbaker

Well said. It's not the government's job to improve your life. Even if i make the upgrade with a new TV, or a converter box, I'm still not gonna watch a lot of TV because the majority of what's out there is crap. Also, people seem to think that TV is a right rather than a privilege simple because they've become so addictive to in most of their lives.

You're right, it's not the governments job to improve your life. But it's not their job to make you do it yourself either.

Originally Posted by Lord Eternos

You're right, it's not the governments job to improve your life. But it's not their job to make you do it yourself either.

True but television is a perk of life, not a requirement. If they shut off analog transmission, and you don't upgrade, then you don't get ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, and PBS off of regular wabbit ears. It is still your choice whether or not to upgrade. Your television still works, the rabbit ears just don't pick up anything anymore since it just so happens that no one is broadcasting analog anymore. Your VCR, DVD player, etc. would also still work on the television.

I understand all this. I just don't understand why the government is mandating it.

Let's say there's a consensus among those networks you mentioned to do this. They all switch. Why cna't other small wannabe stations now pick up the singles and use them to entertain the generation of grandparents thats till have rabbit ears. I just don't understand why it has to be law.

Originally Posted by Lord Eternos

I understand all this. I just don't understand why the government is mandating it.

Let's say there's a consensus among those networks you mentioned to do this. They all switch. Why cna't other small wannabe stations now pick up the singles and use them to entertain the generation of grandparents thats till have rabbit ears. I just don't understand why it has to be law.

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq2

Why are we switching to DTV?

An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).

Consumers also benefit because digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able to offer a super sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called “multicasting.” Multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming at the same time, using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program. So, for example, while a station broadcasting in analog on channel 7 is only able to offer viewers one program, a station broadcasting in digital on channel 7 can offer viewers one digital program on channel 7-1, a second digital program on channel 7-2, a third digital program on channel 7-3, and so on. This means more programming choices for viewers.

I understoodf all of the second paragraph before, but that is just a luxury, a nice feature. I didn't like that the government was maknig us have them. All or nothing kind of thing

The first part makes sense though. So its kind of like the government seizing your house to make a new highway. Obviously, not as extreme.

Think more along Route 66 and I-40 (and other instates roadways that cover the area in different fashions).

Well, looks like the House just vetoed the delay! Oh, the drama!!!

House defeats bill to delay digital TV transition

WASHINGTON — Bucking the Obama administration, House Republicans on Wednesday defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting to June 12 — leaving roughly 6.5 million U.S. households unprepared for the switchover.

The 258-168 vote failed to clear the two-thirds threshold needed for passage in a victory for GOP members, who warn that postponing the transition from the current Feb. 17 deadline would confuse consumers.

House Republicans say a delay also would burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the spectrum that will be vacated by the switchover, and create added costs for television stations that would have to continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more months.

The defeat is a setback for President Barack Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who maintain that the Bush administration bungled efforts to ensure that all consumers — particularly poor, rural and low-income Americans — will be ready for next month's analog shut-off.

The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not prepared for the transition. People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will not be affected.

But Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Commerce Committee, insisted a postponement is not necessary.

"We could do nothing worse than to delay this transition date," Barton said. "The bill is a solution looking for a problem that exists mostly in the mind of the Obama administration."

Barton led the push to scuttle the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on Monday night after lawmakers in that chamber struck a bipartisan compromise. Senate Democrats won over Republican support by allowing broadcast stations to make the switch from analog to digital signals sooner than the June deadline if they choose and permitting public safety agencies to take over vacant spectrum promised to them as soon as it becomes available.

But those concessions did not placate most Republicans in the House. Only 22 House Republicans voted for the bill, while 155 voted against it. Among House Democrats, 236 voted for the bill and just 13 voted against it.

The Obama administration called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department earlier this month hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers. The coupon program allows consumers to request up to two $40 vouchers per household to help pay for the boxes, which translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs. The boxes generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., author of the bill, said he was disappointed by the outcome of the House vote.

"The outgoing Bush administration grossly mismanaged the digital television transition and consumers are confused, households are not prepared, and the coupon program for converter boxes is broken," Rockefeller said in a statement.

The Obama administration had no immediate comment on the House vote.

The next step remains unclear. Gene Kimmelman, vice president for federal policy at the Consumers Union, which has been lobbying for a delay, said he hopes House Democrats will bring the bill up again for a regular floor vote, which would only require majority support to pass. Wednesday's vote took place under a special procedure that required two-thirds support for passage.

Congress in 2005 required broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals, which are more efficient, to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum to be used for commercial services and interoperable emergency-response networks.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the arm of the Commerce Department administering the program, is now sending out new coupons only as older, unredeemed ones reach a 90-day expiration date and free up more money. The NTIA had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list last week and those people will not receive their coupons before Feb. 17.

Barton, for one, is pushing legislation to fix the coupon program without delaying next month's transition.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news...TV.Transition/

I think it's stupid to pay $50 etc with the coupon...

tv was free, i dont see why these things arent.

I could care less though, Dish rules