Posted on 01/09/2009 1:21:13 PM PST by Las Vegas Dave
President-elect Barack Obama this week has joined the growing chorus of people who have concluded that the nation is not ready for next month's Digital TV transition.
In a letter to key lawmakers urging that the February 17 switch to digital be delayed, Obama's transition chief cited a litany of issues including the fact that federal funds for digital converter coupons have run out.
While Obama's transition team is correct to point out that the digital transition could force millions of people to lose their TV signals, the President-elect is woefully late to address this problem. By calling for a delay now, Obama is like the captain of the Titanic calling for his deck commander to make a left turn before hitting the iceberg.
But Mr. President-elect, where were you last year when some of these problems started to surface? Why didn't you speak out then when it could have had an impact on how government and industry officials handled the transition process?
Yes, I know you were busy, but don't tell me this issue wasn't important enough to address. It seems to be important enough now to call for a delay.
And don't tell me that you weren't aware of the problem -- because you were asked about the transition in June in an interview with Broadcasting & Cable. After reading your remarks, below is a commentary I wrote last June urging you to get involved in this issue Obama Is Fuzzy On Digital TV Switch The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee apparently has no clue that the transition is in trouble. By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2008) -- Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was asked this week by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine for his views on the nation's switch to Digital TV, scheduled on February 17, 2009.
His response: Nothing.
Well, okay, not literally nothing, but it might as well have been.
In an e-mail response to B&C, Obama jotted down the usual spin about the importance of educating consumers -- and ensuring that the neediest people get those $40 federal coupons that can be used to buy digital converter boxes.
(On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local stations must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV subscription to continuing watching television.)
"I am committed to working with the Senate and House Commerce Committees and the appropriate agencies to ensure that this transition happens without significant disruption and inconvenience," wrote Obama, or more likely, some Obama staffer. But in recent weeks, countless studies and numerous witnesses before congressional committees have testified that the transition is on wobbly ground. For instance:
* The government says it may run out money to mail converter box coupons to consumers who want them -- and it says it has no plans to request more money for that effort; * Hundreds of thousands of converter coupons are scheduled to expire soon -- and the government currently has no plan to allow consumers to reapply for them; * Consumers are having trouble finding the converters in stores with retailers adding that they have no idea when more converters will be available; * Millions of consumers say they have no plans to prepare for the switch; * Millions more who don't need to do anything for the switch are planning to get converter boxes anyway, leaving fewer available for those who do need them; * Millions of homes may lose some local stations even if they get converter boxes, which will likely cause widespread anger and confusion.
And so on...and so on...
But in Obama's comments, the senator offers no indication that the Digital TV switch could become the technological equivalent of Katrina -- with millions of people losing their TV signals overnight. He also expresses no indication that the transition is even in trouble, despite the piling evidence.
The transition is now just seven months away, but the Illinois senator seems like he isn't even paying attention.
"The transition will continue to require public-private cooperation and targeted outreach to seniors and lower-income communities. We have made coupons available for converter boxes, and we need to ensure that the neediest individuals are receiving them," Obama stated.
Blah, blah, blah.
Before you accuse me of political bias, let me say that Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, is no better. The Arizona senator has issued the same robotic responses to questions about the transition, suggesting that consumer education is needed and the government must work with the private sector. (President Bush has also all but ignored the problem; the National Association of Broadcasters has even publicly urged the president to get more involved.)
But everyone knows that. What we don't know is what our so-called leaders are going to do about ensuring that this sinking ship is righted before it's too late. The transition is scheduled for February 17, 2009 -- less than one month after the next president takes office.
Whoever that might be, he better wake up and start paying attention to what could be the first major disaster in his administration.
Is it really only since ‘93? A co-worker of mine said he had heard a report that this was was the highest job cut since 1974.
For some reason when I read about the battery powered tv, I thought of the many times the newscasters say, “If your power is out, stay tuned to this station and we’ll let you know when it’s back on.”
I agree.
And just as important (in my opinion), there's a fundamental element of "fairness" involved for the local broadcasters:
The cost of electric power for running a typical analog transmitter can be huge, usually greater than the cost of power for a digital transmitter that achieves roughly equivalent coverage. Again and again, the feds have promised that these costs would no longer be necessary -- since analog has been mandated to cease after February 17.
The broadcasters have already prepared their budgets for 2009 and are now operating under same. Quite logically, because of the feds' consistent promises, the stations haven't included any post-transition electricity costs for analog in their current budgets.
So now 0bama and company want to overturn years of planning both by the FCC and by the local stations, so as to impose a large new budgetary burden on stations who are already facing revenue shortfalls due to the economic downturn.
Tain't fair! But what did we expect? After all, as 0bama and the Dhimms have told us time and again,
We're from the government, and we're only here to help you!
Phew. To have read this thread, I was feeling guilty (not really, but like I should) because I applied for the coupon. I got mine. When you applied it should have sent you an email about the date to expect it. If you didn’t get it, there was a number you were supposed to call. I got two of them but the kids misplaced one of the coupons before we got to use it.
The folks in government are so impressed with themselves. They think we can’t get along without their input for a single day. Here Obambi sticks his head into an issue that doesn’t need a fix. This has been coming for years, and the adults have already prepared for it. We don’t need saving, and I wish he’d pull his head out and spend time on more important issues. Of course that has it’s own risks though.
I don’t think Obambi is trying to stop technology. I think he doesn’t want to take the blame for all the glitches that will undoubtedly occur when this thing finally goes into effect, and he is thus trying to delay it.
No matter how many coupons are issued, converter boxes sold, antennae replaced or whatever, there are bound to be a million problems with this.
Who knows if these boxes will even work correctly, for one thing? People can hook them up now but on the date in question, no guarantees!
I really believe Obama simply does not want this mess to take effect less than a month after he takes office. A delay would likely be more palatable.
I lost my fence, roof and our boat this year I do not feel guilty on bit asking for the coupon. I did not ask FEMA for a dime even though my Ins. did not cover or make me whole from my Hurricane Ike damage.
I received two coupons early last year. Got some boxes just in case I needed them.
I received two coupons early last year. Got some boxes just in case I needed them.
Where’s my check to replace it?
I want pie! And a tv!
Here's a review for a battery powered ATSC converter.
http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/winegard-rcdt09a/4505-6487_7-33280760.html?tag=mncol;txt
hehehe...thanks, but that's bigger than the TV itself.
No more days of an inexpensive hip-pocket TV for hiking, field work, etc.
The boundlessness of FUD (over anything) never ceases to amaze me.
They’ll just start making them for digital reception, meaning you can pitch the old ones and shell out for the new. I guess it’s no worse than being forced to buy a new computer or video game setup every few years. At least digtal TV will be around for a while (until Halogram or some such takes over).
Katrina in a different context: The “neediest individuals” do nothing and sit around until somebody does it for them. When nobody shows up to take care of them or if that coming is slow, they become “victims” and are showered with goodies that they squander. We have created a permanent sub-class in which no one ever, ever has to take responsibility for anything except voting Democrat. I don’t consider myself at all callous or cruel when I say “screw them”.
Oh, they have...bigger and 10x the price of the analog ones.
I've been waiting for them to drop...maybe they will after the switch is nationwide.
Thanks for posting..........worth a repeat.
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Here’s a review for a battery powered ATSC converter.
No more days of an inexpensive hip-pocket TV for hiking, field work, etc.
Here are some portable ATSC TV's. Some of them cost as little as $120.
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