Digital TV transition delay bill fails to pass in House
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 28th 2009 1:36PM
posted Jan 28th 2009 1:36PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Jan 28th 2009 1:36PM
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Wow..........common sense wins out.
Sadly, as happy as I am for this......why oh WHY did they waste it on this?
Do you know how long it takes for politicians to stockpile this stuff?
Not only that, Obama may just veto it.
Obama is the one first requested the delay.
thats why he would veto this
When the original deadline was set, it was set in the context of a growing economy, not one that's collapsing around our ears. The notion that $50 for a conversion box might actually become an item out of reach of a significant number of the population was genuinely not considered realistic - indeed, the voucher system was devised not as a form of welfare for the old and needy, but as compensation from those damned phone companies for "forcing" people to upgrade their TVs by buying 700MHz spectrum.
The voucher supply has run dry. A significant part of the population will not be able to afford to go digital by next month.
Meanwhile the benefit is supposed to be that some phone companies might be able to start practicing rolling out an LTE network, though no-one seriously expects any LTE networks to go commercial this year because of the early state of the standard. And nobody's planning to use the spectrum for anything else either. So, actually, all of that spectrum that's going to be freed up is going dark until some time mid-2010 at the earliest. It's not going to be used.
This really isn't "common sense" in any practical way. If the spectrum's not going to be used, and people are having trouble upgrading to digital, why are we in such a rush to switch off analog?
@Byrdman
Obama can't veto a bill it if didn't pass.
@Byrdman,
Can you run your logic one more time?
Besides, no matter how many times you delay it, those who didn't get the converter box will still not getting it until he/she is forced to.
WOW ?
Like most things however, people have been warned about this a long time ago. So I have to admit its nice for somebody to put their foot down. I mean, you have the rebate check, all the Wal-Marts and Best Buys have a ton of converter boxes, if people still wanna watch TV OTA, they need to get their butts moving if they haven't already.
wooo hoooo! win 1 for the non nobama nation! lol
Your own mother must hate you. I know everyone else does.
The non nobama nation? That means the people that support Obama, genius. If you meant Nobama nation, it's not exactly a death blow. I volunteered for Obama, and I am completely against this bill.
Anyway, I'm glad that this bill didn't make it. It would've done nothing worthwhile, and people have no excuse for not buying a converter box by the 17th.
With respect to the "special rules," a bill has to have a "rule" in order to be brought up for a vote in the House. When the leadership thinks a bill will pass easily, it may be brought up for consideration under "suspension of the rules." In other words, it is moved that that the House "suspend the rules and pass" the bill which always requires a 2/3 vote because you are "suspending the rules" to do it. There is really nothing "special" here other than the leadership thinking they could pass the bill when they were clearly mistaken.
Yeah, it was in the back of my mind as I said it. I figured I was saying something wrong.
Still, what a waste of time for this to have went this far.
At least common sense won out.
wow, our government did something right for a change! New World Order!
Do you think the 426 people who voted on this bill really understand the TV viewing habits of the 300 million people they represent?
That's 704,225 people for every member of the house. This just demonstrates what an enormous clusterfuck the federal government actually is.
This will still go through... they will get pressured and revote in a couple of days....
Yeah, they're probably stalling for perks or addons, like usual.
I work in tech policy and the buzz the afternoon was that it was headed straight back to committee to then be re-introduced for a vote early next week.
This isn't over folks! They will have at least two more shots at pushing this through over the next two weeks.
What about people who can't get a digital signal at all via their converter box? Get cable or satellite?
What if you live in the boonies, the cable company can't service the area because its too far away/ Even if you don't live the boonies the cable company may refuses to service the area for whatever reason?
As for satellite: What if you can't get a clear view of the southern sky at all?
Please don't tell me about reading books, again the boonies situation, towns are too far away.
Please don't tell me about using the internet for tv shows for not everyone has broadband and only can get dial-up.
Also consider that some people are not bothering to switch to digital because either there is not a real reason to switch, most likely because A: HD programs on broadcast channels are only during prime time, while most the schedule sans news is still broadcast fullscreen, or for cable most HD programs are either movies or sport, while the rest of the selection are just faux-HD.
Even the subchannel selection is pathetic, unless you like PBS how-to shows and british drama, bowdlerized movies on fullscreen (ThisTV), and redundant Weather radars.
They're basically telling people who are skeptics of the digital changeover because of some problems, "we'll figure it out". Sadly they won't be doing that even after the deadline.
Jkid - you don't get this, do you? The broadcasts are simply switching from analog frequencies to digital... if your hypothetical folks "in the boonies" currently receive TV signals via analog broadcast, then they'll STILL get those same signals after the move to digital. The only catch is they'll need a converter box so that their analog set can handle the signal. They do NOT need cable or satellite - just a $50 box... and they've had over a year to buy said box with free "gummint coopons".
You also seem to be confusing digital with HD. The two are not the same. It's not that confusing, really...
@Alan
Its not true, changing from Analogue to Digital doesnt always keep the same broadcast range/coverage.
BUT PLEASE GOD DONT LET THIS BILL PASS!!! TV is not a right and if people have been too idiotic/lazy/old to not get a converter box already, well then fu** 'em. We need to stop catering to the
I agree with Alan. I think Jkid is confusing HD (High Definition) with Digital. That may have something to do with the fact that HD is usually accompanied by the HDTV logo and Digital is usually accompanied by the DTV logo. They are absolutely two different things (which most readers of this blog already know), but I'd be willing to bet there are many, many people out there who also think they are one and the same.
Congress is so worthless! If they had just bailed out the coupon program when the funding problem was announced three weeks ago, the coupons would now be flowing out and all would be fine.
I hope it stays this way. I have answered more questions over the last 2-3 days than the whole time we thought it was coming in Feb.
Grrrreat!!!!!!!
I agree with most here. If your TV stops working next month then SORRY, you had plenty of time to get your magical tv box from Wally World.
oh NOOOOOO
What will my Grandma do now!?!?!
WOW, such drama!
Let me go get some popcorn, can't wait to see how this ends...
While I agree that people had plenty of time, advanced notice, and ads blasted at them, I would say 99% of the general population has no clue what the hell is going on that day. However, for the people who are ACTUALLY going to lose their TV service, a sudden loss of service is the only way to get them out to buy the digital boxes. Then you get to the issue of the coupons. There are none to be had, and that is just not fair.
This is a win for some (for people like me with cable, who don't want to see any more commericals for DTV again), and a loss for the ignorant/elderly/rural/poor.
You forgot to add in lazy in your loss column. If people are actually watching TVs via analog antenna, there was plenty of notice to them via newscasts, rolling updates on bottom of screen, and lets face it this was all announced when there were still plenty of vouchers to be had. Because they waited, should not be our problem.
I'm sure all these people still have AM radios, so they can find out anything they really need to find out, without television anyway!
Love the picture, complete with cane. Where is the seeing-eye dog?
"government-issued vouchers has ran dry."
*run dry*
Yipee!! I'm sure that TV stations that have been at half power awaiting 2/17 are happy to go on and get this over with. It's not like we weren't told about this deadline for years. Anyone who hasn't responded by now SHOULD be left in the cold.
...and let's get back to adopting the metric system, too!
Looks like the old lady will be eating catfood in the dark for a couple months to save up for that DTV tuner box.
Seriously, I've installed a few of those in Boston area. I've almost always needed to use an outdoor antenna. There's more to this than just hooking up a box to to the existing rabbit ears.
And why are they even charging 40-50 bucks for these things? I can't imagine they actually cost more than 10-15 dollars to make. That is what they should sell for. No need for corporations to make a damn profit on this transition? Basically, taxpayers are paying this profit as tax money is used for these coupons. This is the free public television system. Most people who need these can't afford to pay for cable TV.
Personally, if there are people that
a) need vouchers and
b) can't get them because the money pit is dry
Then I would like Congress to pony up more money for them. Keep the date to be the 17th, but still allow more money to those that need it.
Perhaps tightening up the rules a bit, so the coupons only go to people who need it.
Thank you House of Reps
I Really hope this does stay on the 17th!
But they should really just make a funding only bill to make America happy.
I guess THREE years notice that this was going to happen and would cost $50 wasn't enough time, eh?
I still can't believe the gov't gave away vouchers for watching freaking television...
Vic
YESSSS!! I don't know why I care, but I do.
How about the government NOT give my money so someone can watch TV? TV is not a necessity and therefore should not be given taxpayer moneyfor these converter boxes.
They're not.
The voucher system is funded by the winners of the 700MHz spectrum auction. The principle was this: they're taking away frequencies that are currently being used by analog TV stations, therefore people who had perfectly good TVs aren't going to be able to watch TV any more unless they get a converter box that costs money. Given that, the spectrum winners should pay for the converter boxes.
The money has run out. The options available, that do not leave significant numbers of people without TV, are either divert TAXPAYERS MONEY to the voucher system (f- that), or delay the switchover for a few months, giving time for unspent vouchers to expire and put money back into the system, given there's no chance the spectrum is going to be used until next year ANYWAY.
And let me be clear: the spectrum is NOT GOING TO BE USED THIS YEAR. When the TV stations stop using the cleared frequencies, the only signals you'll hear about are Verizon and AT&T working with Ericsson to do test transmissions. The major 700MHz auction winners are planning to roll out LTE, and LTE has has only just been ratified and nobody in their right mind thinks its ready for commercial deployment yet.
All these people demanding the deadline be kept are essentially demanding it for no good reason. There is no benefit whatsoever to keeping to the deadline. None. Zilch. We can either make efficient use of the money that's already in the pot, or we can keep to a pointless deadline in order to let spectrum lie fallow while large numbers of people have their TV service removed, at a time when suddenly $50 for them is a pretty big deal.
What's the point?
So does this end the issue of delaying the digital transition, or will they vote again?
I'm a fan of Obama, but I never got the reasoning behind this, I just don't see how delaying it just a few months would have solved things.
Mind control.
Hurray Republicans!
I think the plan was to hand out another 65 million in coupons as well. I think its in the big economic recovery aka just more debt bill.
I'm looking to get a new stereo, can I get everyone in America to pay for half of that too???
Stupidest thing I've ever heard.
As far as pushing back from 'the original date' I believe that original date was some time in 2005 wasn't it?
2006 was the originally when the transition was suppose to happen.
By "Everyone in America" do you mean "The companies that have bought spectrum meaning your old Stereo will not work any more?"
Now the House wants to vote on this bill again (with new addons) next Wednesday!
Come on just make up your mind and keep the 17th.
The House wants to vote on the bill again because a majority (almost all of the Democrats) voted for it, but it needed two-thirds since it wasn't on the normal agenda and needed suspension of the rules to pass, and a sufficient minority (almost all of the Republicans) voted against it. (Source for partisan breakdown: "Only 22 Republicans voted for the bill, while 155 voted against it. Among House Democrats, 236 voted for the bill and just 13 voted against it.")
In the House, unlike the Senate, a majority can eventually get its way. They just have to schedule additional time to put in on the normal agenda instead of suspending the rules.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28896344/ - Link to story with vote breakdown.
Have any of you insensitive critics USED a converter box? I HAVE. They are crappy. Incredible delay in channel surfing.... They are very fragile...... break after minimal usage... very unfriendly channel selection... for example: you want only channel 50.1 because channel 50.2, 50.3, 50.4, 50.8 and 50.9 are in some other language... too bad sam.... if you nuke ANY one of the channel 50 series, you lose ALL of the 50 series... My Sony TV is only 4 years old..... absolutely fantastic picture on digital reception, but it needs a converter box.... I do NOT live in the Boonies, in fact only 5 miles from a california city of over 475,000, and less than 65 miles east of LA., but I have NO cable service, no high speed internet and lousy cell coverage. Right now I get over 26 UHF and VHF channels. I am NOT an old lady..... either.... now I have to spend $2000.00 in an upgraded TV just to maintain the quality I presently have..... give me a blasted coupon to cover THAT cost!....
Please read what the man wrote below this is excitedly what happened in my State (MI) Please join me in witting your Congresspersonand tell them to do the right thing http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
From the day the lobbyist closed the digital deal for the pay TV companies have blasted from the ruff tops that if you have Pay TV "YOUR READY" the TV test preformed tells customers Pay TV and a BOX FROM THE CABLE COMPANY" you ready" please be aware the Pay TV companies have been blasting lies from the ruff tops.I live in a community were most people can only afford the basic program from the cable company, and simultaneously the $40.00 vouchers dry up at the same time the citizens are informed you must now have a box from the cable company if you wish to view TV, and to get the box you must upgrade you cable service at a cost from $16.00 to $60.00 a month lust to receive the same basic service they had before the change. Congress was wrong and ill informed on this issue as is the author if this issue and Americans contact their congress person and tell them even if you can afford the change do it to help the people that can't afford to pay for the digital change the Pay TV companies lobbied so hard for.
To be fair to the cable companies we do now receive 45 music channels, radio on TV just what I needed, I'm so happy that I can now get rid of my $3000.00 Stereo system.