House and Senate: like ED and HDTV
By Kevin C. Tofel 
posted Oct 27th 2005 4:31PM
posted Oct 27th 2005 4:31PM
Yup, they're similar but just not the same. Take the DTV legislation for example. Two weeks ago, the Senate proposed a hard DTV transition date
of April 7, 2009 as well as earmarking up to $3 billion for digital
converters. Seems like the House is tuning in to a different channel.The House just approved similar legislation calling for a transition date of December 31, 2008 and only $990 million for the transition. The transition date isn't too big of an issue; we're talking about just four short months difference. The real issue is in the proposed government subsidies for the converters. At an expected fifty bucks-a-pop for a converter, will it be enough?
$50 bucks a convertor should be enough. Consider that it is still 4 years away, and technology gets cheaper every year. Next consider all the HDTV's on a chip announcements that have been floating around. Finally, consider the purpose of the box: to make analog TV's compatible with ASTC. These don't need to be HDTV set top boxes, they just need to convert ASTC to NSTC. They don't need all the features of a true HDTV STB. They don't need upconvertors (you know, the 720p to 1080i thingie), DVI, HDMI, or component out. In fact, they could probably just do coax out if they really wanted to cheapen them up.
The transition is doable, and it is doable a lot quicker than 2008 or 2009.
Also, the discrepancy in money alloted is most likely due to means testing. The Senate wants to subsidize every box, the House wants to subsidze those who can truly not afford $50 for TV (which is, like, no one).
Plus if you have cable the conversion can be done centreally the only people this will effect is those that recive over the air broadcasts.i watched some of the senate hearings on it yesterday, as well i am taking a IT polices and issues class with former congressman max burns, and this is one of the things that we disscused.