http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/ Engadget Comments for Digital TV transition delay bill fails to pass in House http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
I hope there isn't some re-vote in the near future.
]]>Jan 28th 2009 1:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy-pD-M0rY4]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Coming again to save the mother f@#kin day yeah!!]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
The reason this is such a big deal is not so everyone can watch The Golden Girls.

Think Emergency Broadcast System and what it could mean if 6.5 million people suddenly lose access to it.

Granted the coupon is only $40 so, um, ya.

]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
Her name is Mae LaBorde. She's 99 years old.

You can hear an interview with her about this ad here:

http://www.marcgermain.com/files/TRO112808.mp3

Interview starts right at the top of the show, about 1:15 in. She was once Lawrence Welk's secretary, for instance. ]]>Jan 28th 2009 3:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 4:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
Ok, but if you're already prepared for the switch, why do you even care? ]]>Jan 28th 2009 4:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
I am curious, do you live in the mountain west? I work for a Public Broadcaster, and we are looking at having to put in two new towers, just to keep the same coverage. (honestly, Digital SUCKS for transmission). There are a lot of areas that will cease to have service, in the mountain regions.

And, as JamesR said, it is more about emergency broadcasting.

For some reason, a lot of older folks do NOT get DTV. They don't understand that their TVs will stop. There are a LOT of others, that have absolutely NO clue how to hook up the converter boxes. There are a bunch of people that have relatively new sets that think they are good, that have analog tuners, because Electronic Retailers were still selling analog sets WAY too long.

This is NOT a simple matter. It really is not.

Personally, I am glad that this legislation failed to pass. We NEED to get this to move on, and honestly, I don't think many more people will be affected next month, than would have been affected in June. But, Jay, you make this out to be a LOT more simplistic than what it really is.]]>Jan 28th 2009 5:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 9:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
My point is, this is the reason that we have the House, the Senate, and the President. If one or two are misinformed, there is always a way to change the outcome of a decision.]]>Jan 28th 2009 9:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
no, im sorry, i havnt seen an analog television in a store for over 10 years. thats a ridiculous claim. there is no way in hell that someone would have gone out and bought a tv with bunny-ears that DON'T have a freaking digital input and felt like they were spending money wisely. this transition is long overdue]]>Jan 30th 2009 5:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
The least they could do is approve the money for coupons that have been asked for.]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
The spectrum will probably be empty for a good while before we see any products use it. In that case, why not extend the deadline to help the whole country get ready for the change?

IMO, it's irresponsible to move on before everybody is ready. I know I'm going to be outnumbered on this site of all sites, but as an engineer, I constantly have to think about how responsible certain technological choices are. To move on whilst knowing that lots of people aren't prepared for it is not a good move. It's like cutting off my phone line when I'm expecting an important call the next day.]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
If you were expecting an important phone call you would do your diligence to make sure you could receive it.

It is not like they are acting without notice.

]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
It's costing extra money for broadcasters to maintain both digital and analog signals. I'm sure this isn't a big deal for the media mega corporations. But for PBS stations that rely on donations and grants, it's a serious issue.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28863917/]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
Actually; public works and safety are ready to go for use of the spectrum, they were actually ready to go in 2005 when the spectrum was originally set to go Digital and the government said that it needed more time to prepare the people.

]]>Jan 28th 2009 3:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
Really? Before EVERYONE is ready? The only way EVERYONE will ever be ready is if you pull the plug, and then make them get off their *$!&*$# and do something about it.....Idle threats just make it worse.....]]>Jan 28th 2009 3:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
For some reason people have the assumption that the government would pay every person with a TV $40. Theyve said from the beginning that only a limited number of coupons would be given.]]>Jan 28th 2009 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Yes I suppose it is irresponsible of us to be accountable. In case you forgot accountability is doing what you say when you said you would do it, i.e. switching to dtv on Feb instead of June. What you are saying is one of the key factors in the deterioration of our intellect as a society and the progressive erosion of our capitalist based system to a socialist based system. I call it the lowest common denominator theory; which says lets only do things that the lowest common denominator will be able to participate in, or systems of change that emphasize only changing when its convenient for the minority, i.e. putting off the switch till June would help the 6.5 mil who can't seem to figure it out and not being concerned with the remaining 294,524,640 people who are ready. In fact I agree with you I think we should halt any type of progress that requires us as a group or society or country to change at all, lets just stay here where its comfortable and no one has to think or work. ]]>Jan 28th 2009 7:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
Whether we do the changeover in February, June, or December 2020, it's never going to be perfect and there will always be some who are left behind.
]]>Jan 28th 2009 10:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
Remaining complacent in existing monopolies will NOT get you any newer or better services faster, especially broadband or streaming video. It's the ivory tower types who want the status quo. Monopolies get to extort higher extortion rents, or "subscription prices", for the same services. Wake up sheeple!
]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 5:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
None of the technologies that you listed for two way acces go anywhere near as far as AM/FM. Also, say 100 channels of tvare boadcasted through some company. Even if you only watch one at a time, there have to be many, many people watching each channel at the same time. In other words, the bandwidth is not wasted; it is more efficient than on-demand video. ]]>Jan 28th 2009 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
@MegaByte: your assumptions become false when AM/FM and TV are no longer allowed to hog all the frequencies that can be used for other data transfer instead. Once loud (energy wasting) broadcast signals are out of the way, targeted signals on the same frequencies can go just as far, or even farther via methods like mesh networking.

All your old assumptions and analogies are wrong. Try getting away from the boob tube and force-fed media, and learning something new for once.]]>Jan 28th 2009 9:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 29th 2009 12:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/]]>Jan 28th 2009 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
No, I think a ton of people think their analog TV won't be able to watch cable TV without a box and panicked and requested a converter box coupon when they didn't need one.]]>Jan 28th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/
I _know_ at least some people said 'oh, a free electronic device' and applied for a coupon even though they knew they didn't need one, simply because it was free. Try to hack it, use it for parts, or just stick it in the closet. Why not? It's _free_ right?

I hate those people.]]>Jan 28th 2009 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/digital-tv-transition-delays-fails-to-pass-in-house/Jan 28th 2009 3:49PM