President-elect Barrack Obama is preparing to delay the switch over from analog to digital as one of his first duties as president, stating that many Americans are not ready for the switch. The cut off date was scheduled for February 17, 2009 in America, which was to free up airwaves for emergency services."We are extremely pleased the incoming administration is supportive of consumer efforts to ensure that the poor, elderly and rural consumers do not face economic hardship as we move broadcasting to digital transmission," said Gene Kimmelman, the group's vice president for federal policy.
The DTV coupons offered by the US government ran into short supply, after many consumers rushed to get one of the $40 coupons, maximum two per household, nearing the deadline for the cut off. Anyone who submitted a request for one after February 4 was put onto a waiting list, unsure if those on the waiting list will receive one. Talks about putting more money forward to the already $1.34 Billion allocated to help the switch are under way.
The switch to DTV will rid of the "rabbit ears" on TV's, switching over to digital broadcasts only, requiring all owners to have a satellite connection, or digital converter box. Currently, only the Netherlands and Finland have fully switch to digital broadcasts, while countries like Canada will switch on August 31, 2011, followed by Japan on July 24, 2011, and the UK in 2012.
Looks like this lady won't need to worry for a little longer:
My argument exactly. We have all known for AT LEAST 4 years, and 1 year running daily on TV commercials. I have had interruptions during TV shows with banners scrolling. It is so stupid that people leave it till the last minute, and we need to suffer because of them.
We are facing the same problem here in Australia, they keep delaying the analog cutoff because not many people are switching. The thing with analog/digital TV thing is many people don't understand what makes digital better, they are used to and have had analog all their life and don't see the need to replace something that works fine right now. It's like my parents, they still only have analog they don't see what is so special about digital and they don't plan to switch as they see it as a waste of money to upgrade something that is perfectly fine how it is now, which is kinda stupid in a sense that all you need is a set top box and you can keep your existing TV, still you'll be surprised how many people feel this way...
Not to mention when did TV viewing become a right !?
People? No data at all. Number of TVs impacted? Wild speculations.
Households? Around 15 million.
The number increases for satellite customers who have secondary televisions that are OTA.
For your child, it has never been a right; it has been a privilege that can be revoked at any time for bad behavior. For the rest of us, I believe it has been a right since the 1940s...television was originally envisioned primarily as a medium for education, news, emergency broadcasts, etc, as well as garbage like reality TV shows...
You can't shut out the lower income just because they aren't up to date like everyone else
You can't shut out the lower income just because they aren't up to date like everyone else
This isn't a knock on lower income. This has been in the works for a long time and ads have been all over the place. If someone is surprised this is happening, then they have never watched TV in the last year or see any ad in major publications because they don't read the paper either.
Besides, with your coupon it costs about $5 - $10 for a converter.
It's either that or a roof-top antenna. Otherwise, the converter box is next to useless.
It's either that or a roof-top antenna. Otherwise, the converter box is next to useless.
oddly my great aunt has a roof top antenna, but can pick up one channel maybe. Course Marshalltown IA isn't exactly near a big city. So I still will have to wonder if there will be signal boosts if even with a roof top antenna, one can't get the channels.
If you have an old antenna that may be the reason, new ones are slightly different regardless to whether they look the same and function the same.
Aye, I picked up on that too. The set-top box goes in between the aerial and the TV, it replaces nothing.
In Canada/America adverts are more, if you use are service you don't have to do anything. Media company X offers X number of channels and will continue to support it's customers during the switchover. However everyone else will have to replace your antenna and install a new digital receiver.
Obuma need to stop the coining in by media companys.
Good. Some acknowledgment of the rest of the population.
Let's hope we see more of this "we actually give a damn about the poor, elderly, and rural residents." Finally, a bit of Socialism, if only in part.
Good. Some acknowledgment of the rest of the population.
Let's hope we see more of this "we actually give a damn about the poor, elderly, and rural residents." Finally, a bit of Socialism, if only in part.
As usual you post nonsense.
"We are extremely pleased the incoming administration is supportive of consumer efforts to ensure that the poor, elderly and rural consumers do not face economic hardship as we move broadcasting to digital transmission," said Gene Kimmelman, the group's vice president for federal policy.
Good. Some acknowledgment of the rest of the population.
Let's hope we see more of this "we actually give a damn about the poor, elderly, and rural residents." Finally, a bit of Socialism, if only in part.
As usual you post nonsense.
haha.
The fact is its $40. Thats dirt cheap in comparison to other things in life
Why should people have to pay an additional converter amount because the government miscalculated the coupon distribution?
+1
It's TV. It can wait a little longer.
These people are always going to exist, you can't delay it forever.
TV is a right since when? If they can't afford it then they should revaluate what's important in life for them.
TV is a right since when? If they can't afford it then they should revaluate what's important in life for them.
Thank you.
TV isn't a necessity or a right. The argument that it is required for emergency information doesn't fly either as there are other methods of communication, such as radios, telephones and emergency sirens, in addition to the internet.
Emergency sirens are worthless. Newspapers are not free (most are not). The internet is a bit more costly than broadcast TV. You are correct that telephone is a right in the sense that individuals are entitled to a discount and their service can not be disconnected in some situations (not sure what they are).
As for radio, the only real difference between radio and TV is that one has a moving picture and they are on opposite ends of the propaganda spectrum.
If they can't afford $40 they shouldn't have cable, since that money could be spent somewhere else.
I'm sure they still have radios.
And if they don't radios cost less than $40.
TV isn't a necessity or a right. The argument that it is required for emergency information doesn't fly either as there are other methods of communication, such as radios, telephones and emergency sirens, in addition to the internet.
you make a good point.
I was going to say that it was unfortunate that the switch over began in earnest and happened to coincide with the (relatively) new economic climate. But yes, the advertisments and awareness campaigns have been harping on about it for a couple of years now... I personally don't own a TV, but if I did I would have already made my decision about whether to convert my household or decide I didn't need one at all.
iPlayer FTW
Last edited by Kevin. on 08 Jan 2009 - 23:48
That is utter FUD. The HD signals can be air-broadcast and in many cases people will not need to upgrade their antennas to receive HDTV signals. What IS required is an ASTC tuner.
I'm a little disappointed by this decision.
I'm a little disappointed by this decision.
This is what I was going to post. What's the nonsense about getting rid of the rabbit ears? digital terrestrial is over-the-air. those with "rabbit ears" most like wont need to upgrade the antenna, just plug it in to the digital tuner (presumably an STB) rathern than an analog tuner, obviously.
But really, I could care less about over-the-air channels. They could do away with them completely for all I care. The content is all FCC-regulated BS anyways.
Well when it's digital, it either works or it doesn't. One complaint that I have about the digital transition is that it doesn't make the cable companies turn off their analog signals. But since that's on their own wires it shouldn't be the FCC's business to regulate it.
I'm convinced that on-demand television is the future, and cable is 2nd best system to handle that (with fiber being ideal). Satellite lacks the bandwidth necessary. DSL can handle it (like AT&T U-Verse), but it's going to reach its speed limits before cable will.
Right now on-demand television is just getting started, but it's seriously lacking in content. More companies need to get involved. I should be able to select any show I want to watch and then choose from a list of all of its episodes.
I would agree to a point. I do believe that Cable companies have more bandwidth than traditional DSL providers. The problem, however, is that Cable is a bit more shared and they use a lot of compression to make up for it. Further, most don't come close to utilizing the full capability of their network. It should further be stressed that many DSL providers are moving over to Fiber (15mb down/5mb up) with the option of a three tier package with TV and telephone. The only real complaint I have with this is a battery needed to power what was once a POTS line.
I actually have DSL. I am looking at upgrading to fiber. Its pretty fast where I am located. I get a good signal with around 200 channels. The difference in bandwidth between 480i and 1080i/p is not that substantial. Most networks should be able to carry it.
Still, I have to admit that I do like the concept of getting over the air 1080 television for free and it looks good. When it comes in (and I admit that can be an if) it looks really good. The only real problem is the programming or lack thereof. Broadcast is mostly limited to CBS-ABC-NBC-Fox-WC-PBS and many other variants (and other languages).
I would agree that on-demand is the future. I, however, have seen very little of conventional OD programming that is not movie rentals (in my area). The only exception seems to be big name events (boxing, wrestling, concerts). We have had on demand since about 2004, prior to that it was PPV.
If you look at its current technical limitations, DOCSIS 3.0 can transfer up to 343 Mbit/s downstream and 122 Mbit/s upstream. I don't know how much faster they'll be able to get it, but I don't expect the old telephone line will ever get that high.
The next step is obviously fiber, but so far the only major company that has been running it to homes is Verizon. AT&T (the largest telephone company) has made no effort to start that. With fiber your only limits are the equipment on each side and the speed of light.
If it makes you feel any better. Our government does not actually do much of anything to help people for free. They will get a significant revenue from selling off the unused frequency.
Then again, we had a old lady in Cincinnati yell at the FCC chair that the converters should be handled like the phone books, they are delivered and if needed placed for you, (2 hours after she was done yelling, they announced that the White pages will no longer be delivered to homes).
By the way, most of the frequencies that would be vacated by the transition won't be sold; a major chunk will be set aside for other public two-way transmissions (primarily first-responder usage).
However, the major proponent to delay the transition is a Democrat (the senior Senator from Louisiana, if I'm not mistaken); his real reason has little to do with the poor and elderly (even in his state) but with a major (for Louisiana) local station owner that has been stalling for *years* on converting their stations to DTV.
HAHAH! Thanks for the laugh. Video has been posted!
Face it, Obama is a moron, and "thinks" too much. He needs to get his head out of his ass, and let things that don't concern him alone.
So when is it gonna be now, 2022 when we get it?
Face it, Obama is a moron, and "thinks" too much. He needs to get his head out of his ass, and let things that don't concern him alone.
So when is it gonna be now, 2022 when we get it?
Be happy that we have someone who "thinks to much." As far as I'm concerned there should be a lot more thinking, critically-minded individuals in office. Scholars, academics, etc.
Be happy that we have someone who "thinks to much." As far as I'm concerned there should be a lot more thinking, critically-minded individuals in office. Scholars, academics, etc.
He may think it's good, but half the time it isn't. We've had all the time in the world to switch.
Damn.
/it's what you were all thinking
Well, change only morans can believe in.
God, I love irony.
Go USA!
No, you love ignorace. Look it up. Moran, I mean...look that up.
that's all i have to say about that.
Companies are waiting to move in on the TV Spectrum that they paid good money for.
Look at the ghettos of south central. or harlem. How about the farming communities of the midwest where gramma and grammpa only use tv for the weather or news and nothing else... they cant afford or do not have access to cable tv in many of those heartland communities. Or how about the single mom with 4 kids and on welfare ( I know go get a job ) even then to some The only option is... Satellite at $60 a month
Give it a rest and think about all of mankind not just your insignificant selves.
Sounds like you wish analog would just stick around forever? Why fix what ant broke? ha!
Last edited by ermax on 09 Jan 2009 - 21:12
And yes, there are many people who still use only the airwaves for their TV. I have two of my Aunts/Uncles that do that because they can't afford cable.
Its typical of what always happens. The poor get poorer, and the rich get richer in America. The poor are the ones that always get screwed in everything in life.
And yes, there are many people who still use only the airwaves for their TV. I have two of my Aunts/Uncles that do that because they can't afford cable.
Its typical of what always happens. The poor get poorer, and the rich get richer in America. The poor are the ones that always get screwed in everything in life.
But our Xboxes, PS3s, and HD MUST get better. Didn't you know? Our entertainments are more important than our fellow human beings.
yeah, i agree. And you know what? All these people bashing Obamas decision probably dont realize something: The people who still aren't ready for the transition are the older non-tech savvy people. (for example my parents, altho we're in canada, we get most of our channels from the states)
Who votes? Mostly the older people!
Think about it....
Then just how long are they supposed to wait for? People have known about this for years now and no matter how long you delay it for, people STILL won't be ready, this is the only way to force people to finally get off their backsides and upgrade.
The older population will always exist.
And the economy... not priority #1?
Just switch over already. It's time anyway.
This isn't Nazi Germany.
Godwin's Law. This thread was just begging for it. Congratulations for having me invoke it.
Godwin's Law. This thread was just begging for it. Congratulations for having me invoke it.
Give me a break, why should we dumb down America for the few? Less then 13 % would require the boxes, and it is estimated that less then 10% of the people that need the converter boxes don't have them. Sorry, I don't think stopping progress for those whom claim they didn't know what was going on is the right thing to do.
BTW - You are a little quick at throwing out the Nazi tag, HIDDING SOMETHING?
This should have been Obama's top priority from day one. It's pathetic!
not saying McCain would be anyhow better...
Yeah, that's all he's thinking about...
Do you even realize how dumb that post was?
Just get the switchover done, disturb and annoy a minority of people, and force them to change their ways - but have everyone else satisfied with it.
Analog TV uses up a large range off radio spectrum that could be used for better things. Once the spectrum is freed up it can be used for all sorts of new wireless technologies. But if you live in CA, it will not effect you. It is delaying the new wireless services that have us aggravated.
I would hope Obama knows what the big picture is and is simply doing this as a political stunt. This is going to be a long 4 years.
We as a society should be helping each other grow NOT lagging behind because of the people who refuse to help themselves.
Hahaha. I get analog with an antenna (10 channels is all I need) and I don't fit into any of these categories.
Please help me understand your Im more important than you attitudes...
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