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 just moved to Winter Haven, FL and my new house is in a Verizon FiOS neighborhood. Paying half for internet at 15 Meg of what I was paying Charter in CT for 750K.
Phone cheaper than SBC by half with telemarketer block as part of the package.
However, I will be sticking with DirecTV as they carry NFL Sunday Ticket. Haven't watched a commercial or a network, half-time, circle jerk, yuk-fest in over 10 years.
I normally agree with this assessment. But in this case people have spent their own money on TV. And now government is forcing broadcasters to STOP broadcasting signals that those TVs receive.
Since it is the GOVERNMENT that is causing the problem, it is rational for the government to provide relief for the problem it is causing.
The new law doesn't dictate that cable has to stop analog service. It only applies to BROADCAST TV. The cable company can receive the signals, convert them to analog, and send them out like they always have.
But I'm sure the cable companies will tell their "customers" that they are forced to go digital.
Realise cable is already pushing digital because it gives them a lot better use of bandwidth so they can make more money.
Meanwhile, in DC (because, hey, we're the nation's capital), just about every broadcast station is already putting out HD digital signals -- ABC, NBC, CBS, UPN, WB, and several independents all broadcast HD signals.
I don't have the tuner or TV yet to view them, but I could if I wanted.....
My only concern with the fiber phone service is that same one that I have with cable phone: even though the actual communication line is underground, power is still on poles, and we're in hurricane country. Hell, we're knocked out if a squirrel falls on the the bare three-phase at the top of the poles (which has happened twice in the last two years).
I want to find some way to run independent power for the phone, so if Dominion craps out and the cell towers go down, I can still call out without having to kick on the genset right away.
Well you just may want to tell if that’s LaVerne nipple or just part of her shirt LOL ;)
Some TV history
The man who real person invented eletronic TV
http://philotfarnsworth.com/philotfarnsworth/index.html
http://www.farnovision.com/
The person who made the first working TV
http://www.mztv.com/baird.html
http://kinema.uwaterloo.ca/hills961.htm
The World's Earliest Television Recordings - Restored!
http://www.tvdawn.com/index.htm
Actually, they will probably be exactly 80 bucks, since the people who would demand the cheapest stuff (the poor and elderly) will be given 80 bucks in refund to buy the item -- therefore it will sell for 80 bucks.
I live 60 miles north of Atlanta in the mountains at about 1600 ft. elevation. It's been either cable or satellite for TV reception especially from Atlanta and I've had both (still have satellite). I was goofing around with some time on my hands and had enough spare cash to get a $70 regular LP antenna and a $20 line amp. I installed the antenna in my attic (subdivision covenants against antennas). Well, long story short..., analog pictures from Atlanta are medium to poor and some are snowy. Only 1 channel is clear. HOWEVER,
I have two TVs with the HDTV tuners built in and WOW! EVERY channel in ATLANTA is BETTER than satellite, no fades, etc.
Signal strengths average 80/100 possible....It is well worth it....
Everything is underground here. But we still lose power. Cell coverage is superb and ADT has a cell system for the alarm so nobody can cut wires.
>>> just making it useless without a converter. <<<
IS that not the same thing?
Just wait tell they do that to your car.
NHRA News: Legislation threatens vehicle hobby industry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/592530/posts
E-tracking, coming to a DMV near you [DOT wants to track your car wherever it goes]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1546825/posts
I could not disagree with you more. Ive compared both and digital is better and at nightime on the network shows the TV stations in Atlanta all go HD widescreen format on their digital channels. I'm 60 miles away in a fringe area and the analog signals suck even with an amp and the HD digital channels on same antenna/amp are all over 80/100. I have two TVs with built in HD tuners, one is an HD satellite TV/HDTV tuner and gets the DirectV HD channels and the local air HD is the same quality. I could not be more pleased and it's digital quality local TV for free.
That's good to know. We have cable (I thought everyone had either that or satellite) and am feeling somewhat less upset about this deal.
The "gift" was pushed hard by the Left. Looks like the GOP gave in -- for now. It'll probably be cheaper to just postpone the date.
I do get tired of Republicans forgetting they are in the majority. Especially when it comes to spending.
That's what we get for relying on the government to set a single standard for video transmission.
It's either that, or suffer the standards wars of computers, videocassettes and DVDs on a massive scale. Hmmm, do I want to commit myself to Sony's programs, or Toshiba's?
Public airwaves, free licenses, gotta play ball.
Besides, I'm sure the industry is begging for this to take place and they can't get the spectrum they want without everybody going digital. Also, if broadcasters don't like it, they can broadcast on the internet.
In digital.
>>> local TV for free. <<<
Not for long!
Come to think of it, why don't more people broadcast on the Internet? Those cable license fees must be massive.
Yes, unless Congress kicks this down the road for another few years, and if not, yes.
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