Posted on 01/04/2008 3:41:04 PM PST by PAR35
You will need to take action before February 17, 2009 if you currently watch TV on an analog TV set that is not connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service. If you own a television with a digital tuner or subscribe to a pay TV service, you will likely continue to receive TV programming as usual after the transition.
(Excerpt) Read more at dtv2009.gov ...
I signed up for my 2 coupons.
I was noted on another forum that the vouchers expire not long after the date of reservation. Therefore it’s wise to wait until you actually plan to redeem it.
No coupons for me as I have cable...can I get a pony instead?
It is also wise to wait until there are boxes available that qualify under the program.
I would like to know where in the U.S. Constituiton the "right to own a TV" is? Is there something in there that provides a TV set as a basic "right" under said Constitution????
In addition, where in the Constitution is the right for the government to regulate something as basic as communication written? Interstate Commerce is a stretch if you ask me. The ability to communicate over RF wasn't known when the Constitution was written and I think the intent of the Commerce clause was for real "commerce", not "communication" or communication types and modes.
Analog TV sets - don’t they EVER burn out?
How about a shot fired through the picture tube?
Wouldn’t it be easier in the long run to simply swap out all the old sets that cannot process digital TV, and ship them over to China or someplace? The Chinese, clever folk they are, can convert them more cheaply than can be done in this country.
Try the 5th Amendment.
You pay $600 for a TV. The government then changes the law, making it worthless. It can be argued that that is a 'taking' or an inverse condemnation.
Are the taxpayers better off giving you a $40 coupon, or in dealing with your federal lawsuit over the 'taking'?
Actually they won’t be mailed until late February-Early March. They have a list of all qualifying boxes at the website
If not, how do you get it without a cable or satellite setup?
If so, how does it free up the airways?
Regulation of the radio spectrum is not governed by the commerce clause. The government claims ownership of the spectrum, and licenses its usage.
The coupon I am getting is for a broadcast converter.
By buying a converter box. Click on the link above.
If so, how does it free up the airways?
Digital signals take up far less bandwidth than analog signals. So they can give a TV station a digital channel (which can be broken up into several subchannels)in exchange for the analog channel, and end up with extra spectrum to re-sell. The broadcaster ends up with up to 5 channels instead of 1, and the consumer gets the short end of the deal.
Some boxes are not available yet.
Thanks.
And I also noticed the gov will be selling the newly freed airwaves to the wireless phone companies.
Cable here also. Can I just get a $40 voucher for my monthly bill?
The broadcast of analog TV signals “over the air” ends in February 2009. The broadcast of digital TV signals (which have been happening since Fall 1998) will continue. But to receive the digital signal (and convert it into a TV picture,) you must have an ATSC digital TV tuner. That means having either an external tuner (”converter box,”) or having a TV with an ATSC tuner built in.
Transmitting both NTSC (analog) and digital (ATSC) signals requires twice the bandwidth of only doing one by itself. So, in order to make the transition, Congress mandated 10+ year period during which TV stations would be required to broadcast both an analog and a digital signal. That period ends in 13 months.
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