Posted on 01/26/2009 7:30:26 PM PST by Peace4EarthNow
WASHINGTON – The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12 — setting the stage for Congress to pass the proposal as early as Tuesday.
Monday's Senate vote is a big victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who have been pushing for a delay amid growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready for the currently scheduled Feb. 17 changeover.
The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.
"Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., author of the bill to push back the deadline. "I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time."
The issue now goes to the House, where Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., has vowed to work with House leaders to bring Rockefeller's bill up for a floor vote on Tuesday.
President Barack Obama earlier this month called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for government coupons that consumers may use to help pay for digital TV converter boxes. The boxes, which generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon, translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Guess who benefits from this? One of Obama’s people. He is tied to a company that competes with Verizon. Verizon was going to benefit from this deal (something to do with bandwidth becoming available).
This is happening because you can broadcast 8 to 12 digital channels to what it takes to broadcast 1 anolog channel.
Let them eat cake or cornbread, their choice.
They fear people listening to talk radio while being productive at home. They fear people actually spending their evenings meeting and talking to their neighbors about the communist takeover. They fear a people who go to the internet for their news and information.
I've seen thousands of beautiful houses built by men who were listening to the radio as they work, but I have yet to see one built by men who were watching Trance Vision!
Digital Delay is really a sop to Obama's donors at Sprint.
I just left a thread where a FReeper was crying about the switch to DTV. Not ready, they said.
Pathetic.
That's exactly what will happen to millions that purchased portable televisions.
In addition, when the grid goes down, everyone will have dead blank pictures.
For the most part, today's television caters to the easily led, drooling slobs.
Of course, some of us use other means of communications.
Now they'll pay even more to keep two transmitters running.
It was May, 2006.
Agreed. However, without so much government assistance, too many Americans will also have to go without their nightly drive-by media propaganda shows. Methinks that's part of what's behind this as well.
Agreed.
I agree with you 100% as usual people waiting for someone to hand deliver them something without doing an ounce of work themselves.
I personally find it hard to believe that many people have an analog TV I am sorry to say.
All so “they” can more closely monitor how their brainwashing is working by digital data. I like it about as much as I like spyware on my computer.
The change frees up part of the broadcast spectrum which the government is selling; the converter box coupons are funded by those spectrum sales.
Not only that, but the govt and the Neilson Co. have gotten you to register your name and address.
Broadcast TV is drival anyway. Pulled the plug on broadcast and cable TV years ago. The family hasn’t missed it at all. We watch an occasional rental DVD and that’s it. Don’t have to watch Obama on the news. Life is good.
The BHO PR spin machine is trying to convince us there is actually a significantly large population of poor, elderly, isolated, & clueless folks who adjust their rabbit ears to be able to watch tornado or blizzard warnings on their ancient teevees. I ain't buyin' it.
I read a lot more than I watch TV. Therefore I do not want to spend any extra money on a converter box until I absolutely have to. So I am very happy about the delay. Anybody that has a problem with my lifestyle choice, can kiss my duppa.
Actually though I have been wondering about the impact the upgrade will have on the MSM TV monopoly? Most people get their news from the TV and internet. The papers are dying. My guess is that most people will go directly to cable or sattelitte instread of the converter box. Will it be the death knell of CBSABCNBCPBS when most people switch?
In my area they’ve all been converted already. Can’t believe this is being dealyed. But the Gov’t isn’t the smartest people we have. Just why is that?
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