A most bizarre conclusion. Do you not think SOMEONE has reaped the benefit of the 1.5 billion dollars appropriated by Congress for this?
If you can buy something worth $250 for only $100 hand Uncle Sam picks up the other $150 do you not see the transfer of wealth? You get to keep $150, and the converter manufacturer makes a sale that he otherwise might not have. Everybody makes out, except me. I get the bill. I'm the guy on the other end of the wealth transfer, so don't try to tell me it isn't taking place.
John Q. Taxpayer.
The converters are expected to go for $70-$90, the rebate is for I think $40.
The rebates will be paid for by the auctioned “white space” between-channel spaces that will be unused by the digital signal.
The ‘white space’ will be used by cops and emergency services etc.
They will make far more from the sale of that freed up broadcast space than the rebates will cost.
So quit your screeching and be glad that some will get a lousy $40 discount on the expense of the government mandated obsolescence of our television sets.