Posted on 01/09/2009 7:37:11 AM PST by Puppage
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama is urging Congress to postpone the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, arguing that too many Americans who rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air channels won't be ready.
In a letter to key lawmakers Thursday, Obama transition team co-chair John Podesta noted that the Commerce Department has run out of money for coupons to subsidize digital TV converter boxes for consumers.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
How about a bailout for all analog tv owners?
Analog tv owners got it.
How about if we let the market handle it and let those how still have rabbit ears buy their own boxes.
how many people have analog that makes this such a challenge? We have known for, what, three years now that this change was occurring in Feb08?
Already done. The Government provided $40.00 coupons to buy the $49.95 converter boxes...two per household (until the program ran out of $$$)...
They’ve already gotten a 1.5 billion bailout, and they want more, now, that is the problem.
But, I do guess the Gov’t should re-reimburse people when they’ve purposefully forced obsolescence on your technology.
Those of us who still have rabbit ears don’t find the content of cable or satellite to be worth paying for. Personally, I don’t find local broadcasting of much use either. If not for DVD or VHS, we wouldn’t need a tv at our house at all.
Hey wait a minute. Just a gosh darned minute. 0bama just said yesterday that we have only 1 president at a time. How can he be weighing in on this all important subject before Jan. 20?
Note to Obama (aka “The One”): Why are you (and Congress, for that matter) delving into such inane things as television? Is this really the responsibility of the Federal government? Oh, I forgot - you want to run everything in our lives because we are too stupid to do it ourselves.
I don’t know if the same is true where you are, but there have been “infomercials” by local alphabet network affiliates here every day at approximately noon, going on 2 years now, reminding those of the switch. The word’s been out but the downtrodden have been too busy buying lottery tickets and Blockbuster rentals to heed.
Millions of “low income” (ie, Democrat minority voters) who only have antennas, and who have ignored this oncoming event for years, and who refused to save the $40 required to buy a converter box, and were too lazy to make the effort in collecting the subsidy offered.
There’s already been a bailout. Free coupons.
However, many people have been ordering the $40 coupons (two per household) who already have digital TVs. They are then sold to people who have multiple analog sets for $10-20.
Well, if the market was handling it, there wouldn’t be a mandated change of frequencies.
“We have known for, what, three years now that this change was occurring in Feb08?”
Exactly! Especially this past year where the warnings and PSA’s on the tube were non stop! I was so sick of it.
If you don’t have your stuff together by now, Tough Patooties!
One big excuse I’m hearing is that some folks have their super sekrit decoder boxes, BUT DON’T KNOW HOW TO HOOK THEM UP!
Oy! Yet another gubbermint program in the works there, I fear.
So much for change.
The government (aka Taxpayers, aka You and ME) are giving away $30 coupons towards the necessary converter box, which only costs about $35 to start with, and which are sold in every WalMart in the country.
TV stations have been talking about the “digital switch” almost non-stop for the last year.
How the hell could ANYONE claim to be “unprepared” for it?
By the way, when do you think I’ll get my $30 “Government Coupon” to put towards my Cable TV bill?
Oh, and when DID the “right” to watch television become a Constitutional Right, anyway?
Solve this the same way we are solving everything else. Print more money.
>>Those of us who still have rabbit ears don’t find the content of cable or satellite to be worth paying for.<<
That’s fine and I agree with you but back in the 60’s when we wanted more than 13 channels we bought a converter box.
You should buy one too. I shouldn’t have to buy one for you.
So he’s not for Change
Hmmmmm?
No WE shouldn’t.
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