http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/ Engadget HD Comments for DTV bill already causes doom and gloom http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
I'd bet that there's not any useful number on that last item. I've got 2 TVs plus 2 LCD monitors that include TV Tuners. All four of those are connected to my cable. I think if the cable company was paying attention, they'd charge me an extra $3 per TV after the first one.

I would love to get some money back from the government to subsidize my buying a new HDTV tuner, but I'm more concerned with missing out on a benifit that other people may get. Are there any HDTV Tuners out there that can be got for around $100?]]>Feb 2nd 2006 9:37PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
Radio Shack sells an Accurian HD receiver for under $90, but they are only sold in stores. Good luck finding one. I'm trying to sell mine with an amplified UHF/VHF antenna. I was finally able to get digital cable with HD and DVR service last week.]]>Feb 2nd 2006 10:13PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
If the cable companies had any intelligence, they would take this marketing opportunity to get the 50 people who don't have cable to sign up. Offer a low end DTV package with the digital set top box for $10 a month or so.]]>Feb 3rd 2006 9:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
Generally speaking, it isn't the folks who have internet access and would read a blog that will need educating about DTV. The best way to educate them is through TV commercials and announcements. (As soon as they start selling HDTVs on the Shopping Channel, things will take off!)
]]>Feb 3rd 2006 9:52AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/Feb 3rd 2006 10:23AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/Feb 3rd 2006 10:34AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
That said, the goverment will subsidize the DTV-to-analog converters, so everyone should still be able to watch TV.]]>Feb 3rd 2006 10:51AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/Feb 3rd 2006 11:52AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
However, if the govermnment resold the frequency my cellphone works on for profit (as they're doing with the analog TV bands) cutting me off, I think a rebate on my phone would be in order.]]>Feb 3rd 2006 12:01PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/From what I understand, they are going to auction off that frequency spectrum cause they can get tons of money that way. Doesn't it then belong to whoever buys it, not the consumer?
I don't own the frequencies my cell phone uses...I pay a monthly fee for a device that can communicate on those frequencies. If they changed frequencies, then that's my loss.
The biggest problem I see here (which really has nothing to do with HD) is this idea Americans have today that the government is responsible to take care of poor people. Provide housing, food, healthcare, and apparently DTV tuners. That's a nice notion, but where does the money come from? From the taxpayers. ]]>Feb 3rd 2006 12:15PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/
If you do not believe that radio spectrum is a public resource, just like water and air etc., then we won't see eye to eye on this. The frequency spectrum STILL belongs to the people, but it's being *licensed off, thats why the FCC exists.]]>Feb 3rd 2006 12:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/02/02/dtv-bill-already-causes-doom-and-gloom/I think you make a good point about the spectrum. It is a public resouce, it's simply being controlled by the gov't.

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