Calls for delaying digital TV switchover - Page 4

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I just finished mounting my antenna. Signal's fantastic.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

That seems to be the case here. In reporting on the vote for the delay, all the major broadcast affiliates in my area say they are going ahead with the switch on Feb 17 regardless of the new deadline. And it is still just a deadline. Nothing in the approved legislation prevents stations from making the change anytime they want. They do not have to wait until June 12.

So I wonder how much of a difference this vote will really make assuming many of the country's affiliates share the same view? It appears lots of stations will switch over on Feb 17 anyway.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I just read over at The Digital Bits that out of the 6 million not ready for the switch, 1.8 million are on a waiting list for coupons for the converter boxes. Granted, they procrastinated but it's better than doing nothing to get ready.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Is this a bad time to bring this up?

Future metric deadlines:
2009 December 31
Now suspended indefinitely, the EU measurement directive that would have banned non-metric units in Europe (with limited exceptions, and with dual-labeling of products not permitted), has been canceled by the EU Commission, hoping in return that U.S. regulations will allow voluntary metric-only labeling on consumer products. See next item.
Before the end of 2009
The U.S. should allow metric-only packaging by amending the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). This would be a good response to the elimination of EU requirements for SI-only labels which had been plannned to take effect at the end of 2009.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Waiting list for the boxes? Or the coupons? I've seen pics of piles of converter boxes at retailers in news reports.

I hope people realize that you do not HAVE to have a coupon to buy a converter box. It would be helpful if those of sufficient financial means didn't suck up all the coupons, leaving none for those who can really use them.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Sorry, coupons. I skip words.

That does raise the question of how hard is it to print up a coupon?

EDIT: Also how many of those people on the waiting list have cable or satellite and don't know that they don't need a converter box?

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Text of the bill as passed:

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 352

To postpone the DTV transition date.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 29, 2009

Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. KERRY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. PRYOR, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. KOHL, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. HARKIN, and Mr. CASEY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed

---

A BILL

To postpone the DTV transition date.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `DTV Delay Act'.

SEC. 2. POSTPONEMENT OF DTV TRANSITION DATE.

(a) In General- Section 3002(b) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note) is amended--

(1) by striking `February 18, 2009;' in paragraph (1) and inserting `June 13, 2009;'; and

(2) by striking `February 18, 2009,' in paragraph (2) and inserting `that date'.

(b) Conforming Amendments-

(1) Section 3008(a)(1) of that Act (47 U.S.C. 309 note) is amended by striking `February 17, 2009.' and inserting `June 12, 2009.'.

(2) Section 309(j)(14)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(14)(A)) is amended by striking `February 17, 2009.' and inserting `June 12, 2009.'.

(3) Section 337(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 337(e)(1)) is amended by striking `February 17, 2009.' and inserting `June 12, 2009.'.

(c) License Terms-

(1) EXTENSION- The Federal Communications Commission shall extend the terms of the licenses for the recovered spectrum, including the license period and construction requirements associated with those licenses, for a 116-day period.

(2) DEFINITION- In this subsection, the term `recovered spectrum' means--

(A) the recovered analog spectrum, as such term is defined in section 309(j)(15)(C)(vi) of the Communications Act of 1934; and

(B) the spectrum excluded from the definition of recovered analog spectrum by subclauses (I) and (II) of such section.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER BOX PROGRAM.

(a) Extension of Coupon Program- Section 3005(c)(1)(A) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note) is amended by striking `March 31, 2009,' and inserting `July 31, 2009,'.

(b) Treatment of Expired Coupons- Section 3005(c)(1) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(D) EXPIRED COUPONS- The Assistant Secretary may issue to a household, upon request by the household, one replacement coupon for each coupon that was issued to such household and that expired without being redeemed.'.

(c) Conforming Amendment- Section 3005(c)(1)(A) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note) is amended by striking `receives, via the United States Postal Service,' and inserting `redeems'.

(d) Condition of Modifications- The amendments made by this section shall not take effect until the enactment of additional budget authority after the date of enactment of this Act to carry out the analog-to-digital converter box program under section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) Permissive Early Termination Under Existing Requirements- Nothing in this Act is intended to prevent a licensee of a television broadcast station from terminating the broadcasting of such station's analog television signal (and continuing to broadcast exclusively in the digital television service) prior to the date established by law under section 3002(b) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 for termination of all licenses for full-power television stations in the analog television service (as amended by section 2 of this Act) so long as such prior termination is conducted in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission's requirements in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, including the flexible procedures established in the Matter of Third Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television (FCC 07-228, MB Docket No. 07-91, released December 31, 2007).

(b) Public Safety Radio Services- Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall prevent a public safety service licensee from commencing operations consistent with the terms of its license on spectrum recovered as a result of the voluntary cessation of broadcasting in the analog or digital television service pursuant to subsection (a). Any such public safety use shall be subject to the relevant Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, including section 90.545 of the Commission's rules (47 C.F.R. 90.545).

(c) Expedited Rulemaking- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each adopt or revise its rules, regulations, or orders or take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions, and carry out the purposes, of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF COMMISSION AUCTION AUTHORITY.

Section 309(j)(11) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(11)) is amended by striking `2011.' and inserting `2012.'.

Section four is the only smart part of this bill. Having "rolling" shut-offs over the next four months might actually be a better method of making the switch anyway. Instead of a hard shut-off date, I wish the delay would have split the country into different deadlines, starting in the South, where snow and ice issues wouldn't be a problem. Something like:

1. March 14th, 2009: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
2. April 18th, 2009: Hawaii, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware
3. May 16th, 2009: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
4. June 13th, 2009: Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine

This would be way more effective than a simple four month delay. Each "phase" of the switch-off would be a learning experience that would help make the "phase" of the switch-off run more smoothly. Of course the politicians from the first "phase" would never allow it.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

The govt ran out of money for the coupons, since they are actually paying that $40 to the retail stores. They need to have it added to the budget for them to make up more.

They are also waiting to see if the existing coupons are used up. They all have expiration dates. Once that expiration date passes, they can issue a new one to someone else.

My problem with this is, how long have these coupons been available? I ordered one as soon as HTF posted the link.

Why are we enabling those that never got around to ordering one?

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I heard a guy on the radio grumbling about why does the gov has to pay for these boxes. He said nobody gave him money for a new radio when their was a big transition from AM to FM or when color tv's came out.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

B&W TVs received and displayed color TV broadcasts, so no replacement was necessary. Analog TVs will not receive or display digital broadcasts.

I can't speak to the radio switchover.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Similar concept; AM broadcasts continued with the same programming for many years after FM hit the national consciousness. The talk radio ghettoization of AM radio is a fairly recent phenomena.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

That was the original plan, but how can they do that now? The bill, as passed, states in Section 3:


It doesn't even say w/in what timeframe people have to request replacements for their expired coupons. It seems that the people on a waiting list are going to be on there for an indefinite amount of time . . .

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

And likewise, there's no vouchers for HD FM upgrades: FM still broadcasts and current radios continue to work.

This transition is completely different from past changes, because for the first time the old signal is being turned off.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

You and I are paying that $40 to the retail stores. Never forget where the government gets its money.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I guess my biggest beef is that tv is not a right. So why should we (taxpayers) have to pay for people to upgrade their tv's?

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Excellent point.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

That isn't strictly the case, here... at least the money for the coupons isn't coming from tax revenues. Instead, the money is coming from the proceeds of the spectrum auction. Less than $2B has been allocated for the CECB program, but the spectrum already auctioned raised over $19B.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I have heard that some people are using the coupons to buy the boxes and then selling them on ebay.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I stand corrected. Thank you for the information.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Well, the government is essentially saying that TV has to be broadcast in a certain way. They are saying that analog TV has to end. So, they are forcing everyone to buy a converter box.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I understand. But, again it comes down to this. Is tv a right? This changeover has been discussed and debated for years. It wasn't like they just decided yesterday to change. People had time to put a few bucks away and get a converter. Put $4 a month away for a year and they have enough for the converter. Or how about instead of giving coupons to everyone who wants it. Save them for people who meet some income requirement (ie-seniors or low income people).

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

This is a government mandated change in national technology that completely obviates all TVs from just five years ago -- such as the $1800 Sony WEGA HDTV I bought in 2002 or the $1800 50" RPTV a friend bought in 2004. Without converter boxes, everyone with a TV just a few years old would be forced to buy one regardless (or a digital tuner for hundreds of dollars, or subscribe to cable for hundreds per year).

Evening ignoring the question of "fairness", it would be politically impossible to do this without the voucher program.

And perhaps the vouchers aren't paid for by we the taxpayers, but by the sale of the frequency bands freed up by this transition.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Sadly, it's been decided and changed and decided and changed and decided and changed and decided and changed and decided and changed. I agree with you though.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I understand that. But, what I am saying is that someone who can afford an $1800 tv. Should be able to pay $40 for a converter. If we are talking about a low income family or a fixed income senior whose 20" cheapo tv is not going to work. Then I have no problem with the voucher.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Arguably, yes. The radio spectrum is a public resource, owned by the People. The reason the FCC exists is because it is also a finite resource; if everybody was allowed to use the spectrum as they wished, it would be useless since everyone would be broadcasting ontop of one another. So in 1927, Congress created a comission to regulate radio in the "public interest, convenience, and necessity." The perview of that regulation was extended to television upon the development of that technology. Part of the deal with getting a radio or TV license is that the broadcaster has to commit to programming in the "public interest"; use of the limited public resource for profit confers a responsibility to provide a public service. Since the government is the steward of the public airwaves, it arguably has a responsibility to ensure accessibility.
The question is what that responsibility entails. Most of us think that the bar has been met on the consumer outreach side of things. And ironing out the technical problems is going to prove to be a many year endeavor. Because DTV broadcasts are capped at much lower power than analog TV broadcasts, and because the fringe reception for DTV is basically useless, a massive infrastructure investment is going to need to follow so that new transmission towers are put into place to plug the holes.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

The government auctioned bandwidth for exclusive commercial use, so it is not true that access to all national resources is a right.

What makes television a right is that it is used to distribute emergency response notifications.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Fortunately, that's not what I said. The government has auctioned off licenses to use spectrum since 1994. In so doing, consumer devices and telecommunications have been improved greatly. While many of these are subscriber services, they provide an option for the public that did not previously exist. And in many cases, the licenses come with responsibilities. In the most recent auction, for instance, all C-block licenses must be used with so-called "unlocked" devices. On this band of spectrum, the licenses holders cannot keep phones and other devices not designed specifically for their network out. All D-block licenses must share bandwidth with a national public safety network, the original justification for the auction. The exact rules for this spectrum are still being developed.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Some stations will be switching over on the February date as planned, such as local PBS station, which says they no longer want to pay the extra $10,000/month in electricity bills for the analog broadcasts. The GMs of the network stations are deciding together what to do, except apparently our FOX affiliate which is corporate owned and thus will not switch over till June.

One of the prime arguments for switching over now locally is it will force the few thousand people who still aren't ready to transition now, rather than 2 weeks into hurricane season.