Obama's transition team urges Congress to postpone DTV cutover

With the money well all dried up and a monumental transition looming, Barack Obama's transition team is urging Congress to take a second look at letting the cutover take place as planned on February 17th. According to a letter recently sent to Capital Hill, John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, stated: "With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively-mandated analog cutoff date." Quite frankly, this has the potential to be huge. When would it be rescheduled to? Would additional fundage be applied? How would broadcasters react? Obviously, we shouldn't have to wait long to see how this all pans out.

[Thanks, Tommy]

[John @ Jan 8th 2009 6:59PM]

Sometimes you should pull the switch and see what happens, god forbid someone misses a tv show. OH THE HUMANITY. Stop delaying and be done with it. The amount of scrollers on my stations is beyond annoying, if you haven't heard about by now, you don't watch tv as it is.

[Bob @ Jan 8th 2009 7:35PM]

Hey, alright! The NObama team is ALREADY delaying stuff! WOOT! Can't wait to see what they do when he's president!

[deyanimay @ Jan 8th 2009 7:42PM]

Its not just about shows. You have to consider that some people still get most of their news from tv, not everyone has internet. Especially the elderly who don't understand technology so when the cut off date comes and they know nothing about it they will no longer have any means of receiving the news and emergency warnings.

[Rifter @ Jan 8th 2009 7:47PM]

As others have said, people use it to get their TV. The digital TV switchover is going to create a bunch of problems. I tend to be in the camp of cut over and see what happens... but out here in the west, it is going to cut off a LOT of TVs to people. The majority that will be affected are those under poverty and the elderly. I work for a Public TV station, and we have invested a LOT in public outreach and education... yet still find a bunch every day that know nothing about the switchover.

[MasterCKO @ Jan 8th 2009 8:20PM]

Agreed with original comment. Education is NEVER where it "should" be when these types of changes occur. Just do it and be done with it already. People will adjust.

[oakie @ Jan 8th 2009 8:36PM]

agree wholeheartedly. since when was TV mandatory for survival? if anyone who chose to ignore or fail to get more info in response to 4 years of warnings scrolling on tv, in print ads, and talked about on every single news station, then they only have themselves to blame.

it's crap like this that prevents our country from progressing into the future... we have this desire to halt progress indefinitely for the few who are too dumb to even breathe for themselves. if you dont know about the changeover by now, it's because youd ont watch tv anyways.

[Lars @ Jan 8th 2009 8:56PM]

It'll be like the ending of Cable Guy.

"crap, TV out... hmm, what other entertainment is within reach."

I am a little upset that the vouchers are gone. I have 2 TV's with rabbit ears in the house. I don't like paying for cable or sat, especially since I don't watch much TV. It's not that I didn't know it was coming... I'm just a lazy procrastinator.

[Matt Ferens @ Jan 8th 2009 9:27PM]

If these people get their news from the TV and haven't noticed the warnings and messages over the past year, then delaying it a month or 2 will make not difference at all. You can't fit 2 gallons in a thimble, no matter how slow you pour.

[Devo @ Jan 9th 2009 4:08AM]

The switchover may decrease the viewing numbers of their propaganda machine, so of course they want it delayed.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 8th 2009 9:36PM]

Those who do not know about it the day of the cut off, will just have to wake up the next day and learn the hard way. Someone's gonna be pissed, but who gives a damn. It's their own fault. Oh, well.

[Thinker @ Jan 8th 2009 10:27PM]

Here is the problem:
1. The Government raised $19 Billion last year in an auction for the wireless airways.
2. The Government only allocated $1.34 Billion for Set-top boxes.
3. 5 Million Consumers are unable to get Set-top boxes because the $1.34 Billion is spent.
4. In other words, the current government is not providing the services it promised for the transition.
5. The Consumers Union requested yesterday that the transition be delayed.
6. So friends, this is not about progress or lack of progress. The Obama administration has no choice. You do not cut off service to millions of consumers if the digital transition has not been planned and managed properly. How can you say it is the people’s fault if we are now learning that the planning was faulty? How can the government run out of money when $19 Billion was collected for the transition? Where did most of that money go? This is an example of the serious problems that need to be fixed in aspects of the administration of the government.
7. So my conclusion is, if there is a problem, then you have to stop and fix it. The Obama team is doing the responsible thing by reviewing the impact of the transition. If we have waited 6 or more years to transition, then we should be willing to wait a few more months.
8. The people on this site are technologically savvy. How would you like to buy a new Notebook computer only to find out that the manufacturer rushed an incomplete product to market?

[Greg @ Jan 8th 2009 11:50PM]

Next thing you know, Obama's gonna delay the imminent US transition to the metric system.



...wait...

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jan 9th 2009 8:14AM]

@deyanimay

WTF?? When your TV stops working, you go and get a new one!! Even old farts know that!! If their TV stops working you think they'll just sit there stupid on the couch forever wondering what happened?? NO! they go to an electronics store to buy a new one and then get edumacated!!

No one's going to be clueless longer than it takes to get to the nearest store.

Anyone here who is against the move for fear of understanding the technology reasons is just as stupid as the people who don't have a converter already. The rebate issue/funding is another story.

[Ogo @ Jan 9th 2009 12:24PM]

Obama broadcasts many of his ideas and plans to the American people through TV. I would be willing to guess that his is more concerned with his reach to the people than the actual switchover.

He takes office Jan. 20th... Feb 17th millions of Americans could be cut off from him. By the time Obama gets bailouts and plans going the switchover will be during the heart of the time he feels HE needs to communicate.

[OneLove @ Jan 9th 2009 12:34PM]

@Bob: NObama team? I see you been sitting quietly in your trailer waiting for this to happen. (you lost, get over it)

[wobblethehutt @ Jan 8th 2009 6:59PM]

this switch over needs to happen quit stalling

[VeganFreak @ Jan 8th 2009 7:11PM]

YES YES!!! I just LOVE the occasional pixelation I get with this new and awesome switchover! Plus switching channels is a breeze! Just about 3 times longer than the old method!

[Jeremy W @ Jan 8th 2009 7:14PM]

VeganFreak, get a new TV so you can appreciate the all of the good that comes along with the bad you mentioned.

[Bob @ Jan 8th 2009 7:35PM]

@VeganFreak

Yes, because a $20-$30 powered antenna costs WAY too much.

[jimboismydad @ Jan 8th 2009 7:00PM]

Good. Just good, for the reasons stated. No coupons, and a lot of the little old ladies don't know wth DTV is.

[Bob @ Jan 8th 2009 7:37PM]

Yeah, those commercials that explain it aren't clear enough. If I saw a commercial saying that if I don't go to the nearest electronics store and get a box for $40 I'll lose TV, I'll just pretend like it won't happen, maybe that will make it go away.

[jimboismydad @ Jan 8th 2009 7:53PM]

Well your also not a technophobe. So let's say some old lady did buy one of these boxes. Say she attempts to hook it up to her TV. Oops, the converter box only has coax! Well, now you expect her to drive down to RadioShack and buy an adapter, cause her 1970s Sony doesn't have a cable input! Now this confused old lady is going to do all this because obviously she just knows how to. Old lady isn't going to pay attention to a commercial mentioning digital thisorthat. Not every old person has a kid/grandkid that can do all this for them.

[jrock @ Jan 8th 2009 9:06PM]

So what are we supposed to do ? Wait for the old lady to die so there is no need for her to either figure out how to install the converter or find someone who can help her ?

I work at a local TV station and we are constantly doing tests where we literally interrupt the program on the Analog signal with public service announcements saying "If you see this, you need to get the converter box" and yes we fully expect that the phones will be ringing off the hook for all those folks who aren't paying attention or just don't get it!

It needs to get done... Let's do it and deal with the problems on the other side!

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jan 9th 2009 8:05AM]

@Jimbo, "Not every old person has a kid/grandkid that can do all this for them."

That's what the GeekSquad, "white glove installation", PC Richard Home Install, is for, stupid!

Once they realize the TV is not working they'll go to the store to buy a new one assuming it's broken... same shit I'd do if my TV stopped working. Then BestBuy et. al. would inform them it's possible they only need a converter (if they're nice).

This is going to be widespread, so everyone's going to be educated real fast as how to fix it regardless if they understand the technology causing it.

[jBiber @ Jan 8th 2009 7:02PM]

Absolutely not, the sooner the transition the sooner the 700 Mhz block can be used for a variety of new purposes. Also remember the "reason" for this spectrum switchover is to allow emergency workers to have a new source of information - What more important, people being able to watch their OTA TV or the emergency workers being able to "more effectively communicate?"

[Jaytee @ Jan 8th 2009 7:02PM]

So much for change...

[Charles R Hamilton @ Jan 8th 2009 7:34PM]

It's Hope and Change. As in they hope you won't notice there isn't going to be much change.

[fastm3driver @ Jan 8th 2009 9:20PM]

I don't like this "change" one bit.

[loosely_coupled @ Jan 8th 2009 9:22PM]

Oh get over it you idiots... Obama is going to be great, not just for the country as a whole, but particularly with regards to science, technology, broadband, etc. I could only imagine the nightmare of having that crazed nutcase from Alaska around for the next four years ...

[for fucks sake @ Jan 8th 2009 7:03PM]

For someone who relies so heavily on teleprompters, you'd think he'd welcome the transition to clearer, superior T.V.

[Brent @ Jan 8th 2009 7:04PM]

There's no good way to tell all the geriatrics they're simply incompetent. Get it the hell over with already.

[That Guy @ Jan 8th 2009 7:04PM]

Wasn't the purpose of this transition for national security (id est: frequencies for 911) as a response to what happened during 9/11?

We've had plenty of time to make arrangements over the years when this was first announced, why delay it any more because of so many procrastinators?

[Miguel @ Jan 8th 2009 7:04PM]

nope, get it over with already!

[somedude @ Jan 8th 2009 7:05PM]

Another shining example of democrats holding us back, all for the benefit of the lowest common denominator.

[FXguy @ Jan 8th 2009 7:05PM]

Support and education insufficient? I'm sick of seeing all the commercials about the change-over. They're everywhere. They should do it as planned.

[MarionBarfs @ Jan 9th 2009 2:35PM]

agreed! my 65 year old grandparents are well aware, well prepared and they can't even read. And they knew about all of it and were prepared before i even had a chance to inform them myself. there is absolutely no excuse.

[ramracer @ Jan 8th 2009 7:06PM]

jBiber @ Jan 8th 2009 7:02PM
Absolutely not, the sooner the transition the sooner the 700 Mhz block can be used for a variety of new purposes


this

[Derek @ Jan 8th 2009 7:07PM]

NO!

(1) They've delayed enough as it is.
(2) We're practically within a month now. If you haven't heard, you're either not paying attention or an idiot.
(3) We're freeing up the spectrum for a reason.
...(a) Digital is better
...(b) We can use it for other things, like that whole emergency coordination spectrum thing.

If you're worried about there not being enough money in the coupon program, then write them a goddamned check and get it done with!

[mamaway76 @ Jan 8th 2009 7:31PM]

Ahhh, your government at work. No need to get frustrated. Expect incompetence. Expect stupidity.

Don't expect anything different (change).

[Thunderbuck @ Jan 8th 2009 7:08PM]

This cut-over has been planned for the better part of the past decade, and every analog TV station in the US is all set to go. To hold up the process now would probably be MORE disruptive to MORE people. It would certainly be of some incremental cost to the TV stations.

Bad idea.

[Nuggstein @ Jan 8th 2009 7:09PM]

We've known about this for long enough...so if people didn't switch over yet, it's their own faults.

[AJR @ Jan 8th 2009 7:09PM]

I live in a town with a lot of people with extraordinarily low IQ and although I want this transition to be done and over with, I expect there to be some serious problems with the forementioned people and their reaction to the "loss of TV"

[Bob @ Jan 8th 2009 7:42PM]

I don't care how low your IQ is, if a commercial comes on and says "purchase this box or you will lose TV in February," that's kind of a no brainer isn't it?

[AJR @ Jan 8th 2009 7:52PM]

I know, I know, but that doesn't mean they listen. I swear all across the country there will be people saying; Where my TV? Ma ma MY TV no work. MY TV NO WORK duuuuuh. ME MAD!!!!

[CharlieX @ Jan 8th 2009 8:56PM]

It's techo-darwinism. if you can't keep up, you lose. let the unprepared fall into a pit of their own demise

[Vinchenzo @ Jan 8th 2009 7:09PM]

Everyone has had plenty of time to get the converter box or a new TV that supports a digital tuner. The people who are stuck out now will be stuck out at the exact date that congress plans (if at all) to push back the date. At some point, the consumer must take responsibility in their (in)action.

[bureX @ Jan 8th 2009 7:10PM]

Seriously, the current analog TV standard is way older than it should be. Just pull the plug already.

[youngstunna @ Jan 8th 2009 7:11PM]

he's not even the president yet.

[Dolph @ Jan 8th 2009 8:02PM]

He will be after he and McCain steal the hope diamond.

Boom, baby.

[decypher44 @ Jan 8th 2009 7:11PM]

"Fundage"?

Also, what is it with "insufficient education"? There have been a few networks that have been scrolling the info about the changeover for about a year!