As long as I can still get the Lone Ranger program on my TV, no problemo.
Posted on 02/02/2006 11:01:53 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
US analogue TV switch-off in 2009
The US Congress has approved plans to force broadcasters to switch off their analogue television signals by 2009.
Setting a date of 17 February 2009 was called a "great technical revolution" by Republican politician Joe Barton, a main advocate for the change.
Congress has allocated $1.5bn (£844m) to ensure Americans can convert their TV sets to receive digital signals.
The analogue television switch-off in the UK is set to take place gradually from 2008-2012.
The US measures, which were part of budget legislation, were passed in December, but Democrats in the Senate forced technical changes to the bill.
Entitled
Moves to bring about the end of analogue broadcasting in the US have been under way for years.
Under existing law, broadcasters would be required to cease analogue transmissions when digital TV reaches 85% of the population, but this is a threshold which is not expected to be reached.
About 16% of US viewers rely on over-the-air transmissions, while more TV sets use only an aerial to watch TV programmes.
Under the new digital conversion programme, each family will be entitled to $80 (£45) towards the cost of a set-top box.
In the UK, BBC Two is to become the first station to go fully digital ahead of a full switch-off of analogue signals.
More than 60% of households already watch digital TV, while government help has been pledged for those aged over 75 and with disabilities towards the cost of conversion.
I'm technologically deficient; what does this mean for the average consumer?
Well, it is important to keep people mindless so Congress can keep doing its thing.
As long as I can still get the Lone Ranger program on my TV, no problemo.
$1.5 bn of pork for electronics manufacturers.
Hey, thanks for that information!
>>> each family will be entitled to $80 <<<<
And Who pays for that.
Why do I need HD to watch crap?
So much for free enterprise, and a free market.
Paging George Orwell.... pick up white courtesy phone.
What about those with Dish systems? Does the current box convert?
As an electronicophile and videophile, I LOVE HDTV and all that comes with it.
However, I don't think Congress needs to spend $1.5 billion to implement it...
1)In less than 3 years, your current TV won't work unless you buy a converter box; even if you do buy a box, your remote control, picture-in-picture (if you have that) and other features that you paid extra for won't work.
2)Don't buy a TV between now and then. In a best case scenario, you'll pay extra now for an analog tuner in it that you won't use after that date; in a worst case scenario, you'll have to buy extra hardware ('digital ready' may or may not mean that it actually has a digital tuner built in). And, if close to the end of the conversion period, you buy a digital only set, you may find that the cut-over date has been moved into the future.
3)You will probably have to get cable or a satellite dish if you don't already have one. The reach of digital signals is not as far as existing signals. (Now, in the suburbs, a weak signal might give you some snow; after conversion, a weak signal will give you a blank screen).
4)Your picture quality probably won't show a noticeable improvement. Digital doesn't necessarily mean high definition. The broadcaster can choose to give you a quality about like what you have now, and split the allocated spectrum to use the rest of it for other income-producing activities.
It's one of the biggest scams that's been put over on the American people this century.
My husband has thought this was a huge scam too and that our conservative Congress is giving us this "gift" is really too much.
HD is different from digital. Digital, in addition to carrying the information in a binary package, leaves room for other information in the bandwidth used to carry the signal, such as data describing the programming.
HD transmission is made possible by digital, but is by now means the only thing digital carries.
Oh good grief. Since when did entertainment become a basic human right that has to be paid for by my tax dollars??
You do. I'd thank you, but I need 4 (one for each set), so I'll be busy picketing The Man.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.