Posted on 01/09/2009 5:25:17 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
A proposed delay in the digital television transition will apparently have no impact on Hawaii's go-early time of noon Thursday."We're planning to do the transition as scheduled Jan. 15, 2009, in accordance with the request from Hawaii's broadcasting community," said Lyle Ishida, Hawaii DTV transition manager for the Federal Communications Commission.
A proposal by the Consumers Union Wednesday spread through Washington, D.C. like wildfire and was reiterated by President-elect Barack Obama yesterday, citing concern for consumers unprepared for the Feb. 17 national transition date.
As of Monday, Hawaii requests for DTV converter box coupons were at 53,012, while redeemed coupons totaled 13,872, Ishida said.
From Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, 1,469 coupons were redeemed for analog-to-digital converter boxes, "the highest week for redemption."
The FCC estimates that 22,000 Hawaii homes receive TV over the air. They may have multiple sets so there is no way to know how many over-the-air households are now DTV-ready, said Ishida and Chris Leonard, president of the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters.
Local amateur radio clubs were ready to help consumers install converter boxes, but the national organization nixed the plan citing liability concerns. HAM radio operators are assisting the FCC in other ways, Ishida said.
Five other community organizations have received microgrants of up to $3,000 to install converter boxes for residents, particularly the elderly and disabled, Ishida said.
"The Collegiate Ministry of the Hawaii Baptist Churches are out doing installations as we speak," he said yesterday. He was to train the Pearl City High School Boys' Soccer Team Parents last night.
"It seems small-townish ... but I really miss that being on the mainland. I'm delighted, it feels really local," said Ishida, originally from Hawaii.
And a royal pain for those who use AA-powered portable TVs in the field. I don’t see coupons to purchase portable DTVs.
The real issue here is those poor Mexicans over the border who don’t have digital TVs and can’t get coupons.
After five plus years of this crap, this is what government does.
Well we can always add 61 cents to the cigarette tax to fund healthcare for kids up to age 29. Oh wait, that’s on next weeks agenda. Roll your own.
Correct me if I’m wrong..but, wasn’t this tv switchover a deal Klinton did w/China? Back in the 90’s?
Actually it was Republicans in congress who were in favor of it back in 1996. The idea was to move broadcasters to new channels in the UHF band and free up the VHF band to be auctioned off in order to reduce the federal defict. The federal government has made over $19.5 billion in revenues from auctioning off the VHF frequencies formerly used by TV broadcasters.
The Wilmington, NC metro area has been digital only for a few months now. Haven't heard a peep about mass destruction or inhuman lack of communications.
Nor should you. I'm tired of paying for everybody else.
Obviously, but why the restriction? Why do some get a coupon and others don't?
Every household in the US is entitled to two coupons so long as the coupons are available. The problem is the surge of applicants just before the scheduled conversion. Considering the treasury is gettin $19.5 billion from the sale of spctrum, a few more hundred million dollars for more coupons is not unreasonable.
Exactly, yet by government math, the costs of the sale aren't included...they'll just account for the windfall grab.
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