THE REAL REASON CONGRESS IS DEMANDING AMERICA CONVERT TELEVISONS FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL???

08 March 2008 | Robert Drobot

[Robert Drobot]

We are told by the government it is in our national interest to live in the insanity of a free trade market ( quicksand ) economy. Why then is the Congress sticking its ugly head into the alleged 'free marketplace' tent; making law to cram a digital signal down the collective throats of Americans, when we didn't ask for this dictatorial intervention???

[jdege]

Because when they’ve moved everybody off the current analog broadcast frequencies, they can then auction those frequencies off to the highest bidder, and use the money to buy more votes.

[Robert Drobot]

Correction :

I've come across the minutes of one Congressional staff meeting ( H.R.___, Regarding the Transition to Digital Television in which 'security' is referenced thirty-eight ( 38 ) times; 'national security' is referenced three ( 3 ) times; and Homeland Security is referenced five (5 ) times.

[live+let_live]

I love conspiracies, they’re lots of fun. But this is just the evolution of the technology. Digital is better. It uses narrower frequencies than analog.

[Cvengr]

I think it is a mechanism to ween people off of TV, in the same fashion that tobacco has been taxed out of existence.

[Caramelgal]

No references to “it’s for the children”?

[Man50D]

I'm sure lobbyists on behalf their clients in industries who stand to benefit from this law were a big if not primary factor for passage of this legislation. It has as much to do with national security as banning incandescent light bulbs.

[Beagle8U]

When the Government can get rid of so called “Free” TV and cash in on what amounts to air they will, and did.

Once the Tech was in place and in use the Fed saw no reason not to cash in.

[Popman]

THE REAL REASON CONGRESS IS DEMANDING AMERICA CONVERT TELEVISONS FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL???

Obviously, the tin foil lobby is behind this so they can sell lots of tin foil hats

[diverteach]

It’s so you can see the BS in the media more clearly. LOL

[John W]

Well, before I put up an outdoor antenna for more reliability, I was getting a perfect picture FREE over the air from the new-fangled digital transmissions 25 miles away with a set-top antenna. And, with sub-channels, three times the programming.

[Rider on the Rain]

Don’t you think they want the spectrum freed up by analog TV, and don’t you think it is be needed for national security, emergency preparedness, and public safety functions?

[PGalt]

Very interesting post. Thanks. (Just thinking...worst case scenario...easier to manipulate propaganda?)

[A. Morgan]

The 9/11 commission mandated better public safety radio the best system required reassigning the 24 MHZ for public safety
radio frequencies.

[SlowBoat407]

Te frequencies that are currently being used by analog will be repurposed for a number of things, including emergency and security communications, data transmission for high-end smart phones that will leapfrog European cell technology, and other devices using local wireless technology.

No word yet on which frequency the black helicopters will be using.

[Lord Basil]

FWIW, the feds are offering at most two $40 coupons per household to buy digital-to-analog converter boxes. Yet another instance of our tax dollars at work.

[Hardastarboard]

a mechanism to ween people off of TV

The broadcasters themselves have nearly accomplished that. TV has become entirely, totally unwatchable. Every seven minutes you get three minutes of commercials, five minutes at the top of the hour. If you surf over to another program, you see two minutes of that, and it goes to commercial break. It's become unbearable.

[raybbr]

I love conspiracies, they’re lots of fun. But this is just the evolution of the technology. Digital is better. It uses narrower frequencies than analog.

Then explain why Congress is mandating the change over to digital vis-a-vis a "better" technology? Where are the market forces in a mandate by Congress?

[Robert Drobot]

"....this is just the evolution of the technology. Digital is better...."

What has that got to do with the type of appliance I choose to use in my home, and the Congress hustling for a 'must buy' product from China?!?!?!?!

[BigLittle]

To make room for more PDA's, cellphones and whatever new digital trasmission devices are on the horizon.

Analog broadcasting was and is simply sloppy in the utilization of bandwidth, and yes the govt reaps $$$$ for the changeover.