For over three years the National Association of Broadcasters has been telling us that change was coming, that analog was going to become obsolete and digital was going to become the standard format in 2009. This change was mandated by Congress in 2005, requiring broadcasters to switch from analog to digital broadcasts, which are more efficient and to free up valuable chunks of wireless spectrum. The newly available room in the airwaves can be used for commercial wireless services and for emergency-response network.
Now at the eleventh hour, President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, arguing that too many Americans won’t be ready for the transition. The Obama transition team decided to push for a delay after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration admitted that it had hit a $1.34 billion funding limit set by Congress to pay for converter box coupons. The coupon program allows consumers to request up to two $40 vouchers per household to help pay for the converter boxes, which generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.
The Bush administration and the Consumer Electronics Association, opposes a delay in the digital transition, mostly on the grounds that first responders urgently need the analog spectrum, as do innovators waiting to deploy innovative new wireless broadband services and the government and broadcasters have invested so much preparing for the transition date. For once I agree with our lame duck President, the time for procrastination is over. The genie has been released from the bottle and there is no turning back, the future is here, and whether we are ready or not the digital age is upon us.
I understand there is uncertainty, frustration and confusion among consumers and too many Americans who relay on analog TV sets to pick up "over-the-air" channels wont be ready. But the proposal to put off the transition, if even for only a few months is not the answer -- the problems with the coupon program can be fixed without forcing a delay. It might sound cruel but the future is not for the meek at heart, the final frontier envisioned by shows like Star Trek is fraught with danger and incredible rewards... adapt and evolve or stagnant and become extinct.
Now at the eleventh hour, President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, arguing that too many Americans won’t be ready for the transition. The Obama transition team decided to push for a delay after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration admitted that it had hit a $1.34 billion funding limit set by Congress to pay for converter box coupons. The coupon program allows consumers to request up to two $40 vouchers per household to help pay for the converter boxes, which generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon.
The Bush administration and the Consumer Electronics Association, opposes a delay in the digital transition, mostly on the grounds that first responders urgently need the analog spectrum, as do innovators waiting to deploy innovative new wireless broadband services and the government and broadcasters have invested so much preparing for the transition date. For once I agree with our lame duck President, the time for procrastination is over. The genie has been released from the bottle and there is no turning back, the future is here, and whether we are ready or not the digital age is upon us.
I understand there is uncertainty, frustration and confusion among consumers and too many Americans who relay on analog TV sets to pick up "over-the-air" channels wont be ready. But the proposal to put off the transition, if even for only a few months is not the answer -- the problems with the coupon program can be fixed without forcing a delay. It might sound cruel but the future is not for the meek at heart, the final frontier envisioned by shows like Star Trek is fraught with danger and incredible rewards... adapt and evolve or stagnant and become extinct.
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3 comments:
Why not extend it out? Their are people on fixed incomes & the elderly that can not afford the converter boxes or those that are afraid, I think they should give them a few more months, have an aggressive program, hitting the pavement & educate those people so they can handle this transition smoothly.
I agree with your commentary-enough is enough, general public has had ample time to make arrangements to deal with the conversion! It would be refreshing to see a government project implemented on the anticipated date!
I agree with "anonymous's" comment, if we are going to be a nation of "hand holding" for much longer, then we're never going to get anywhere! La Poeta...your heart is in the right place but people have been warned of this for quite some time, even if they put $1 away per week from the time they found out they could've bought themselves a few converter boxes, whats a few more months going to do if they've known for a few years already? I absolutely hate PROCRASTINATION!!!!
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