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Interests => Games & Home Entertainment => Topic started by: Chris_ on January 08, 2009, 05:39:03 PM

Title: Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch
Post by: Chris_ on January 08, 2009, 05:39:03 PM
Quote
Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch

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.

People who don't have cable or satellite service or a new TV with a digital tuner will need the converter boxes to keep their older analog sets working.

Obama officials are also concerned that the government is not doing enough to help Americans — particularly those in rural, poor or minority communities — prepare for and navigate the transition.

Well, we can't have all them po folks out there unable to see "The One" every time he's on the boob-tube.   :whatever:

MORE (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478005,00.html)

Title: Re: Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch
Post by: Zeus on January 08, 2009, 06:21:15 PM
even without the coupon the damn things are only about $50. If they really can't miss a day or two of Oprah they'll find the $50. People were only given about 4 yrs to save the money for the boxes.

Typical Govt, force private industry to spend billions & billion of Dollars on switching from Analog broadcast to digital, then don't let them broadcast in digital.
Title: Re: Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch
Post by: Chris_ on January 08, 2009, 06:24:00 PM
Lets not -- you gotta do it when you gotta do it.

I guess the new fuhrer's handlers let him speak on this critical issue.  Grice eminence -- the fuhrer's support line.
Title: Re: Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch
Post by: Flame on January 09, 2009, 07:38:28 AM
Yeah, because we only had HOW many years of warnings that the switch was coming?  It wasn't enough!   :whatever:


I say if they aren't prepared, then tough. 
Title: Re: Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch
Post by: Chris_ on January 09, 2009, 07:45:07 AM
I think if they're going to provide coupons like this, then they need to start paying for all the other currently unfunded gubmint mandates.  They could take those financial loads off the states or eliminate the mandates entirely.  Yeah, that'll happen.   :whatever:   :fuelfire:
Title: Re: Obama: Let's Postpone Digital-TV Switch
Post by: Zeus on January 09, 2009, 08:34:23 AM
I think if they're going to provide coupons like this, then they need to start paying for all the other currently unfunded gubmint mandates.  They could take those financial loads off the states or eliminate the mandates entirely.  Yeah, that'll happen.   :whatever:   :fuelfire:

The switch to digital was a good call on a couple fronts. I really see no reason the converters have to be subsidized by the govt given the number of years people have known the day was coming. Also the price of the converters is minuscule compared to the money the avg Joe spends on other stuff.

A converter box costs about the price of a carton of smokes
A converter box costs about the price of of a 30 pack of beer +/-
A converter box costs about the price of Xbox  or playstation 3 game cartridge
A converter box costs about the price of 1 night out meal for two.
A converter box costs about the price of a night out at the theater.
.