February 6, 2009 7:24 AM
DTV transition delayed; program spokesman Bart Forbes online at 11 a.m.
If you've procrastinated about applying for coupons to buy a digital converter box so you won't lose your over-the-air TV signal when the nation's broadcasters switch to digital, you've caught a break.
Congress pushed back the transition date from Feb. 17 to June 12.
Bart Forbes, spokesman for the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, will be online at 11 a.m. to answer questions about the transition.
E-mail questions/comments in advance and join the chat here at 11.
The change is being mandated because digital signals are more efficient than analog ones.Ending analog broadcasts will free up space in the nation's airwaves for commercial wireless services and emergency-response networks.
The delay is a victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who maintain that the previous administration mismanaged efforts to ensure that all consumers - particularly poor, rural and minority Americans - will be prepared for the switch.
The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals are not ready. People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will not be affected.
A personal note: We have one TV in the house not connected to cable so I applied for a couple of coupons, purchased a converter and hooked it up to a small set on the kitchen counter. Worked fine but we weren't crazy about having another box cluttering the cable so we waited for sales and bought a 19-inch digital TV.
Alas, the coupon program is underfunded and people are now being put on a waiting list. One of the problems is the coupons expire 90 days after they're issued, a well-meaning requirement to prod people to use them as soon as they received them. Problem is, there are 1.4 million unredeemed coupons out there and new requests are only being processed after existing coupons expire.
So here's a solution: let retailers give customers the discounts and then be reimbursed by the government for the $40. That way, anyone who needs a converter box could get one in time for the transition (Feb. 19 if you're marking your calendars).
Did you get a digital box? A new digital TV? Waiting to get a coupon?
January 9, 2009
8:28 AM
SASQUATCH writes:
"...delayed because the Commerce Department has run out of money for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers."
HAHAHAHA...What, no bailout and taxpayer subsidy? And this very same clown wants to spend $1 trillion on make-work dirt-pushing projects?
January 9, 2009
8:42 AM
gr8fuldude writes:
I hate agreeing with Sascrotch on ANYTHING, especially on a Friday.
I remember several years ago when we adopted ten-digit phone dialing. We had the same calls for delay, the same cries that we could never adapt in time, and that the world would fall, etc, etc, etc.
In my experience, people will rise to (or sink to) whatever level of expectation you set for them. Pander to them, buy them new TV boxes, etc, and you will be amazed at how helpless they become. Set a date and time for departure and tell them to be there though, and they will usually get on board in short order.
With the state of the economy, this should be the absolute LAST thing Obama is worried about.
January 9, 2009
9:32 AM
Shaggy writes:
We've been told this for two years now.
I am not surprised the folks who voted for Barry were incapable of understanding this simple concept.
"They usually don't buy anyway. (they steal)"
Spot on, a pity me riot, steal and pilferage is in order for the "underachievers".
Nothing like having a flood of the century to reward yourself with a new flat screen and a shopping cart full of booze.
But hey, they all said Barry would take care of them so they don't have to work and.
January 9, 2009
10:50 AM
Anon E. Mouse writes:
The bigger travesty is that the gov put expiration dates on the coupons...so if you were planning in advance and got your coupon, but didn't redeem it immediately (within 90 days--and remember, they started giving them out well in advance of a year before the Big Switch) you are out of luck. You CAN'T get another one.
And just so you're aware of WHY we're making the switch--the Fed Gov figured out it could auction off (for billion$) the frequencies to the telcoms.
So they (we) make billions on a public commodity, but it's socialism to hand out coupons to poor people???
January 9, 2009
4:27 PM
gordonlee writes:
”In my experience, people will rise to (or sink to) whatever level of expectation you set for them. Pander to them, buy them new TV boxes, etc, and you will be amazed at how helpless they become. Set a date and time for departure and tell them to be there though, and they will usually get on board in short order. With the state of the economy, this should be the absolute LAST thing Obama is worried about.”
well, it is the last thing obama is worried about; that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be concerned with it. and besides, gr8fuldude, how does your understanding of human nature (especially the point about level of expectations) explain the behavior of wall street vis-à-vis the sub-prime financial debacle and folks like bernie madoff who were entrusted with the legal commitment and expectation to do right by investors and the public at large, or do we presume that such high-up muckety-mucks are above the rest of humanity?
January 9, 2009
4:50 PM
cinnabar writes:
Don't you love how the Obama spokesman talks about "the most vulnerable Americans" being "exposed," as if TV is some sort of essential daily nutrient? Do you suppose future generations will recall the "Great TV Crisis of 2009" when millions of couch potatoes dropped dead because their TVs suddenly couldn't recieve Friday Night Smackdown and Supernanny?
January 9, 2009
4:58 PM
Anon E. Mouse writes:
Ya know, Cinnabar, TV can OCCASIONALLY impart much needed emergency information.
Like--a hurricane's headed your way--or wildfire--or massive winter storm.
January 10, 2009
7:37 AM
KW writes:
Obama may be right on this one...
You at least have to give him credit for his trillion dollar bailout proposal. Obama is willing to bet the farm that all we need to turn this economy around is to add about 600,000 new government employees to the payroll.
But now on second thought... Oh, never mind.
January 10, 2009
10:46 AM
the_ripper writes:
Funny the new prez doesn't have anything better to do than be concerned about people watching TV.
Same guy that wants to let me keep an extra twenty bucks in my paycheck and pretend that'll help the economy.
January 11, 2009
10:07 AM
wotmeworry? writes:
Just what we need, another face-slap on personal responsibility.
If you watch media-world and are unaware of the change that is being imposed, who is responsible? But just like many of the other decisions made by our 'american idol' elected leader, it removes any responsibility from personal responsibility.
People may have to get the gumption and start doing for themselves or those that can will do it for you.
January 12, 2009
9:33 AM
Anonymous writes:
whatmeworry,
Barry understands the intellect of those who voted for him and needs to appease them.
February 6, 2009
10:16 AM
Tree writes:
Guys, think about this scenario. Think lobby money and influence.
Do you really think Uncle Sam is looking after us, the tv watching drone knucklehead?
Or, is the Guv't listening to big money? The advertisers. Big money doesn't want to pay big money to advertise Tide soap and Bud beer to 75% of their base, they want to be able to reach 100% what they had before the switch.
Money hasn't changed color in 2009. Money talks and we walk and take the bus.
February 8, 2009
12:41 PM
What Me Worry writes:
Here is a perfect example of how a crisis and a stimulus package should work.
(The Crisis) The people that have waited too long for the handout of a coupon will suddenly have their video non-functioning.
(The Stimulus) The affected populace would have to make a concerted effort to acquire the equipment to regain their video bliss.
(The Result) A flowing economy driven by cause and effect.