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Author Topic: Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.  (Read 6094 times)

Offline gunug

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« on: January 27, 2009, 11:59:02 AM »
QUOTE
The transition date would move to June 12 from February 17 under the bill that was fueled by worries that viewers are not technically ready for the congressionally-mandated switch-over.

It also would allow consumers with expired coupons, available from the government to offset the cost of a $40 converter box, to request new coupons. The government ran out of coupons earlier this month, and about 2.5 million Americans are on a waiting list for them.

Senate Commerce Chairman John Rockefeller said delaying the TV switch is the right thing to do because the United States is not yet ready to make the transition.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9012601984.html

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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2009, 04:12:13 PM »
Let's see, we have the government offer $40 coupons, then they run out, some of the issued coupons have expired, some cannot find any boxes to buy, now we have a delay (assuming Congress plays dead, also). Oh! But we can now wait until Spring to climb up and install the new antennae! cheer.gif In the meantime, confusion will continue to rain (and that's not a misprint!). rolleyes.gif If this is not a perfect example of how not to "govern" I don't know what is. wallbash.gif Just who's "airspace" do any of these people think they are 'auctioning' and legislating?
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Offline kimmer

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2009, 05:20:23 PM »
QUOTE
Senate Commerce Chairman John Rockefeller said delaying the TV switch is the right thing to do because the United States is not yet ready to make the transition.

 rolleyes.gif  rolleyes.gif  rolleyes.gif  rolleyes.gif  rolleyes.gif
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Offline gunug

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2009, 08:07:12 PM »
I have no idea what the percentages are but I know there are people who aren't ready (and may never be ready).  I'm getting my aunt and uncle ready this week because they've decided that they can't afford basic cable ($28 month) anymore and their coupons have been "backordered". . .luckily I've got two of the converter boxes and have found an antenna for them for $29 that's just like the one that I have so it should work fine!
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Offline sandbox

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2009, 01:59:02 AM »
The system failed, not the consumer and not business. It will take some time to get it right. This is not the first or last thing left in chaos by the decider so expect unmet deadlines to be not so dead. In the meantime, there are broadcasters and developers who are not ready for prime time. If this initiated in Feb. there would be system failure in the broadcasting end as well. The delay covers a lot of mishaps and potential mishaps IMO.
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Offline krissel

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2009, 02:18:45 AM »
The push to keep the original date was being conducted by some of the companies that want to use the analog bandwidth and are angered that they will have to put off plans. It's their lobbyists that kept the date from being pushed back til now.

What gets me is all the billions that are available for various bailouts but they complain about a few million to pay for more coupons. It's bad enough that there will still be thousands of TVs rendered useless but to deny a measly $80 to those who can least afford a new TV or cable is disgusting.  The sale of that airspace was worth billions to the government. dry.gif
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Offline Al

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2009, 03:22:36 AM »
Well, this is some news... Cause here, they have already switched a week ago... Wonder what they are thinking now..... LOL!

I am wondering why the Hawaii airwaves went digital one month earlier than the rest.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2009, 08:27:24 AM »
The failure is exactly due to the three entities mentioned above; companies (both broadcasters and equipment makers), government (who sold the peoples property and yet refuse to share the profits for the expenses they are forcing on the original owners of that property) and consumers who have been told about this event for plenty long enough for even the oldest to know what was to happen. It is simply one more instance of excusing irresponsibility by all parties involved. While those who did what was expected will be the only ones to suffer the consequences. Wonder if I can use the same excuses around April 15th? I doubt it and besides, most of my money is already in the coffers...

Oh well, there is still "Hope." rolleyes.gif And, besides, some people said they wanted "Change." I just hope 25 cents is enough for them...
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 08:28:04 AM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline kimmer

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2009, 12:26:46 PM »
QUOTE(Al @ Jan 28 2009, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am wondering why the Hawaii airwaves went digital one month earlier than the rest.

I can't find the article right now, but it had to do with an endangered bird that nests near some towers that have to come down. At least that's what I think I remember.
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Offline dolphin

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2009, 03:00:39 PM »
Well the House has voted it down.

DTV fails in House
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Offline Francine Eisner

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2009, 03:14:52 PM »
Apparently, 13 million coupons have expired. Why have an expiration date? It made the process more like a lottery...was that what was intended? Where is the fairness?

I'm one of the 13 million... Groaner.gif

Francine
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QUOTE(kimmer @ Jan 28 2009, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE(Al @ Jan 28 2009, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am wondering why the Hawaii airwaves went digital one month earlier than the rest.

I can't find the article right now, but it had to do with an endangered bird that nests near some towers that have to come down. At least that's what I think I remember.



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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2009, 03:26:17 PM »
I'd suspect there are a lot fewer antennae to build or change than most other states, also. Probably a small population than most states, helped too. dntknw.gif Plus, it gives them bragging rights as leading the country! They may be further away from DC but they seem to have been able to beat the deadlines set there. Or, just maybe being further away from DC is another of Hawaii's benefits! smile.gif
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
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Offline kimmer

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2009, 11:27:59 PM »
At least 2 stations in Portland (Oregon) have announced they will be switching solely to HDTV on the date.

Our local cable company is small enough to have received an exemption, and so they won't be upgrading their broadcast equipment. They will receive the HDTV signals from the satellites, but will be sending out an analog signal to all us lucky customers. So far, I'm unimpressed. The stations already broadcasting in HDTV show up with chopped pictures on all 4 sides, scrawls on the bottom are not readable because they are too low, we get pixelation like crazy, the sound is crummy ... and on and on. We have figured out how to watch the local weather by changing our screen view, but then we have to change it back again for the next segment.

Our current cable bill is $23 per month - and we get an amazing selection - even if we can't seem to watch it any more tongue.gif ; and we don't watch enough TV to justify the cost of satellite or dish -- so I guess we'll just deal with it all.
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Offline Al

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2009, 02:04:54 AM »
QUOTE(kimmer @ Jan 28 2009, 08:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE(Al @ Jan 28 2009, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am wondering why the Hawaii airwaves went digital one month earlier than the rest.

I can't find the article right now, but it had to do with an endangered bird that nests near some towers that have to come down. At least that's what I think I remember.



Thanks Kimmer, I heard something similar as well after I posted.  At least I am not affected at my home.  But, I do use a radio at work that picks up TV sound as well, now I am getting a recorded message about the switch over, so, TV sound is a useless feature, lol! wallbash.gif

Update: Here is the bird that has us being early on this....

Hawaiian Petrel
« Last Edit: January 29, 2009, 10:59:24 AM by Al »
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Offline RHPConsult

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Senate passes Bill to delay digital TV switchover.
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2009, 10:35:40 AM »
The comprehensive "explanation" is here . . .

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