Digital TV Deadline for the U.S. set

[webby]

Feb. 2009 Could Be End Of Analog TV
$1.5B Set Aside To Help Buy Converters

POSTED: 12:56 pm EST December 19, 2005

WASHINGTON -- House lawmakers approved legislation early Monday that would complete the transition to all-digital television broadcasts by Feb. 17, 2009.

The measure also would allocate up to $1.5 billion to help consumers with older, analog TV sets purchase converter boxes so they would continue to get service in the digital era.

The date for all-digital and the subsidy were included in a broader deficit-cutting bill that the Senate could take up later Monday.

The Feb. 17th deadline -- the so-called "hard date" to end traditional analog transmissions -- was a compromise between House and Senate legislation that called for different end dates.

The House initially proposed ending analog transmissions on Dec. 31, 2008; the Senate had backed a hard date of April 7, 2009 - after the March Madness college basketball playoffs.

The Senate had also proposed a much bigger converter box subsidy of $3 billion. The compromise figure of $1.5 billion is meant to help the 21 million households who rely on free, over-the-air television. Cable and satellite customers would not be affected by the switch to digital.

The new House bill would initially provide up to $990 million for the converter box subsidy, including about $100 million for administrative costs. If more funds are needed, another $500 million would be made available.

The move to all-digital will free valuable radio spectrum, some of which will be allocated to improve radio communications among fire and police departments and other first responders. The rest of the spectrum would be auctioned by the government for an estimated $10 billion, though private estimates put that number higher.

The House bill also would set aside up to $1 billion for public safety agencies to upgrade their communications systems.

http://www.local6.com/technology/5577560/detail.html

[BlackSIguy]

They need to up the minimum wage in order for people to be able to afford TV's that will be able to handle the digital signal....

Interesting enough, but not fast enough...

[civicboy]

Originally Posted by BlackSIguy

They need to up the minimum wage in order for people to be able to afford TV's that will be able to handle the digital signal....

Very true indeed. What about older people with 30 year old televisions, like my grandparents. By 2009 the monthly cable bill will probably be $150.00 min, just for cable TV, I'm not talking about the internet either. As the time nears you'll hear alot of people start to bit**!

[John2009]

Originally Posted by civicboy

Very true indeed. What about older people with 30 year old televisions, like my grandparents. By 2009 the monthly cable bill will probably be $150.00 min, just for cable TV, I'm not talking about the internet either. As the time nears you'll hear alot of people start to bit**!

Heard a comedian say digital is nice, but you're paying a ton of mony to watch the sh** that's out there.

[Celcius]

We should get rid of minimum wage. I know plenty of people who don't do shit and get paid way too much. Instead, we should focus on paying people what they're worth - mainly me. I'm thinking six to seven figures.

[Silver8th]

Cable companys are a rip off IMO, becuse they know your options for service are limited. I friggin hate paying over $100 a month for highspeed and expanded basic. Its ridiclous cuz they jack the price up every year seems like.
I can't wait for the day every in in HD though.

[2RotorMotor]

Originally Posted by Silver8th

Cable companys are a rip off IMO, becuse they know your options for service are limited. I friggin hate paying over $100 a month for highspeed and expanded basic. Its ridiclous cuz they jack the price up every year seems like.
I can't wait for the day every in in HD though.

Get dish network..

[Janizary]

This year (2006) was the orginal deadline for this to happen (Set in 1998 or 99). There was, however, a proviso for % coversion that was not passed, thus, surprise, a new deadline!

Even those with older "HD-Ready" sets will need coverters if your set does not meet the current interface standard. That means all those with 'only' Progressive Component inputs will still need coverters. Joy.

[CameronJr9]

Eh. This could turn into a big rant, so I'll try to control the length of the post...
It is just one more thing that the government has too much control over. I understand that there will be some form of "help" for people to convert to digital, but aren't there bigger issues that we need to worry about than a crystal clear television picture? If TV looks better, what's the probability that all the obese children out there will stay in longer and watch more TV and/or play more video games? Instead of paying for TV conversion, let's have more community involvement, afterschool programs, or whatever for kids.
Also, I understand the need for better and more productive use of the radio spectrum like the article states, but once that is done and the unused frequencies are auctioned off, where do you think the government is going to put that money? I'd certainly like to see it go to education, health care, or to benefit abused children, etc. More than likely it will go to something mundane like Senate retirement funds or something much worse...
Okay, end of rant.