Senate OKs 4-month delay to digital TV changeover

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090127/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/digital_transition_delay ^ | Monday, January 26, 2009

[USCG SimTech]

FCC micro-manages electromagnetic radiation like the FAA controls each and every aircraft in airspace. Control=power=funding all level proportionately interactive.

[USCG SimTech]

The FCC better permit power output increases or there will be howling. I’ve been OTA digital signal for 2 years now and I’ve had to jack up my antenna/rotor/amp and distribution system significantly because, like a squelch control on a VHF radio, a certain signal level and SNR must be present for the front end of my HDTV tuner to permit processing-for-display, that channel.

[Hatteras]

Conservatism has control of the radio. The Democrats can’t afford losing millions of TV viewers.

[Ol' Sparky]

I can’t wait for the first big emergency post dtv changeover when people can’t get a local TV signal anywhere.

It will happen. And, when it does, I can see Obama and the Democrats suggesting taxpayers pay for HDTVs for the poorest amongst since they must have a working TV in case of an emergency.

[steve-b]

It makes me puke that the govt sold the bandwith for profit, something that used to be free and now they are forcing me to put out extra cash just to hear local news. All these companies are rolling in the cash and their pukey CEOs making big bucks buying off the govt. How many coffees at McDonalds do I have to give up to buy this converter box. Hell I think they should give it to retirees FREE.

This is a case where the government should pay for it -- the government took away the ability to use analog over-the-air TV by mandating the digital transition, and the government therefore owes compensation to people who incur costs as a result. The money involved is a small fraction of the revenue from selling the bandwidth for more efficient uses -- the problem with the coupon program "running out of money" is a bureaurcratic snafu rather than a genuine shortage of funds.

[MetsJetsandNets]

Analog signals travel further then digital. Meaning if you live over 50 miles from your local station, you may not be able to receive a picture with or with out a converter box. An expensive antenna may help, but much of the country is out of range of over the air digital programming. Count me among that group. I live about 10 miles west of the proverbial hamlet of Bumf*ck in an extremely hilly and timbered neck of the woods. Cable is not available. I've tried three different antennas to try and pick up over-the-air analog signals from the nearest local network stations (all 60-80 miles away). On a good day, I can get CBS, but have never been able to pick up NBC. Satellite is available, of course, but DirecTV does not carry these local stations and the stations have twice refused to grant me a waiver allowing DirecTV to provide me with NBC, CBS and ABC from another market. Also, stations are no longer required to come out and do a signal strength test if you file a complaint. For me, the transition to digital is forcing me to spend more money for crappy reception.

[HawaiianGecko]

"Monday's Senate vote is a big victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress"   Big Victory?  So this author thinks Obama will go down in history for saving the world one couch potato at a time?