After much wrangling, the
DTV Delay Act has worked its way through the House of Representatives and will certainly be signed by President Obama, changing the cutoff date for analog broadcasts from February 17 to June 12. Don't expect this to bring a sudden end to
digital TV confusion, since stations can switch prior to that date, and according to the FCC up to 61% will be able to. Since simply powering analog equipment costs thousands of dollars a month, OTA TV watchers will want to check their local broadcaster's plans as more than a few will be
going ahead with the original date for better or worse. Got an unused, expired coupon? No need to head to
Retrevo just yet, since you'll now be able to reapply to the
again-funded coupon program. Of course, the FCC still has to figure out how to implement the new law, with only a few days to prepare, tomorrow's
open meeting on the subject should be very interesting.
posted Feb 4th 2009 4:41PM
Morons...
Look.
You and 99% of Engadget readers are utterly unaffected by the digital switchover. Almost all of us have cable and/or a new TV. But there are millions upon millions of low income Americans who get their news (and entertainment) exclusively from OTA and have old TVs. And millions of these Americans don't have converter boxes because the government ran out of coupons.
So while you grumble about having to wait four more months for a switchover that will you are unaffected by, think about those who it will affect.
Don't you realize that American have a right to TV in the broadcast format of their choice?!?! It's in the constitution! Just like the rights to a car, two story home, credit card and new sneakers.
At least that's what Obama told me at that campaign stop in Iowa...
Nicky has been listening to the propaganda...
I cannot see "millions upon millions of low income Americans" who watch television often enough to receive the bulk of their news and information not knowing or preparing for the transition. Yes, there are people who couldn't get the box because some coupons ran out, but that is not enough of an excuse to push back the date. In this situation I blame only the government who instead of honoring out-of-date coupons decided it to be wiser to reissue coupons that had expired.
As the smart 99% of people on this site will say, this transition has been talked about and planned for years. I think that it's about time that we actually realize that date, and I hope that there aren't any more delays come June.
Having concern for others is propaganda?
@ Nicky
You expect a different response on a tech blog? You really expect the vast majority of Engadget readers to 'think about those that will be affected?'
Why? Because they haven't had over three years to prepare for this? If three years isn't enough to prepare you, I doubt another few months will help. At all.
This delay is completely pointless.
"And millions of these Americans don't have converter boxes because they are too stupid and/or lazy and/or cheap to rectify the problem."
Fixed that for you.
If you were an American that did receive TV only through analog antenna, then you were the to get the full force of the ad campaign about the switchover.
These people were the most informed.
The real reason that the date is being pushed back is that Democrats realized that the poor who are in this situation are their voters. People who vote to get someone else's money and not do for their own. These are the people who's first response in any situation is how someone else will help them (or worse the government). (SEE HURRICANE KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS).
What happens come June 12 and they realize that the same amount of people are in the same situation again? Push it back again? People need to realize that the helping everyone and every point in their life only hurts the person being helped.
Give a man a voucher and he'll sit on his ass all day watching TV.
Give a man a job so he can work for his $40 and he'll be too busy to watch t.v. and spend it on something else.
I think that's how the saying goes..
I'm not sure if anyone has though about this, but, the converter boxes would have most likely only cost 10 or 15 dollars at kmart or anywhere if it wasn't for the coupon from the government. However, since the government subsidized 40 dollars for a box then companies were left to sell the boxes for $50 or $60 leaving the same cost to the consumer. Overall this whole program has been a waste of all of our tax dollars. I guess "Change" will be delayed. This new stimulus bill is another waste of tax dollars (go look up money that its going for). But I guess we got into this situation because "Republicans have messed up this country for the last 8 years and its all there fault."
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
D:
Great, now we get more months of watching 2 hour long specials telling special people:
A) you use rabbit ears and an antenna...you need a converter box
or
B) You have cable or satellite..you don't need a converter box.
These are worse than a modern day "Duck and Cover" commercial..which BTW is a recommended "must see" for people who apparently needed the extension.
Seems like it's kind of a reasonable compromise since the stations can still kill off their analog signals if they want on Feb. 17. I don't see any reason to be bothered by this. And when people start to see that some of their stations are disappearing, they'll be more likely to move on getting a converter box.
Cascading the analog blackouts is probably what they should have done in the first place...
The same lazy, lethargic, procrastinators will not be ready in June either. I heard a guy call in to a talk show on the matter that said his excuse for not getting a box was that he had a life changing experience. Turns out the box was for his third TV since his first two had digital tuners. Why are we the taxpayers paying to subsidize a box for his third TV? It also turns out his life changing experience was his wife having a baby. WTF kind of BS excuse is that? He's a lazy, lethargic, procrastinator that will not be ready in June either!
some commenters are saying 99% of Engadget readers are unaffected by the switch. SERIOUSLY, ARE PEOPLE THIS OBLIVIOUS! We have to pay for it!! I definitely am affected by the delay because it allows time for the $650 Million to be slipped into the $850 Billion "stimulus" bill. So, yes, sir, when I have to pay for other people's TV, then most definitely I AM affected.
THIS is how out of touch the democrats are!
Some will think that Feb 17th was a hoax and they don't have to do anything.
Some stations will switch anyway, others won't, further adding to the confusion.
Several industries invested in the switch will together lose millions of dollars by the delay. Great economic timing.
Washington doesn't care abou the industries, the people, the logistics, nothing. They knee jerk to our detriment. This isn't limited to just DTV.
Be wary of politicians bearing promises.
@ Nicky
And those millions upon millions of people haven't been inundated with ads warning about the switchover on their OTA stations using their rabbit ear antennas? Those same people haven't been able to cough up $50 in that time to buy a box?
a) They're lazy or dumb
b) Really should be doing something OTHER than watching television.
c) In four months these same people will STILL not ready.
d) All the problems surrounding digital tv will still be there (coupon issues, fringe reception, etc.)
So that begs the question of what congress has accomplished with this delay? Absolutely NOTHING. Ain't status quo grand?
Come Feb 17, I hope that broadcasters have the balls that congress seriously lacks, and they pull the plug on analog tv once and for all.
I was just notified today that Qwest is not switching their cable service to digital. So I will be left without channels from my cable provider unless I switch. I'm glad they pushed the date so it gives me a little more time to find new service and have it installed (waiting lists for cable service in my area is 6+ weeks).
Nicky try the cool aid. Its delicious! Oh wait you have been drinking it already. If people did not get ready by now they certainly will not be ready in June. Its the story of the ant and the grasshopper. Poor or not some people are just plain cheap there are people at my work who earn plenty of mney have jobs and still have not done anything to get ready. They dont hve cable, just bunny ears. These are not some poor social bordered people they just wont do anything till they have to.
As for not being able to get coupons, what a load if they have them and they expired what the *&^% were they doing with the whole time they had them? Using them as wall paper? Window dressing? Gluing them to a TV thinking thats all they had to do and the TV fairy was gonna come by and give them magic boxes? Stores didnt have them? Well have them order or issue a rain check using the coupon for you. I just dont get the logic there will ALWAYs be people who procrastinate and well thenthey should get left behind. These are the same people who forget tabs for their car tags? Or tax day? Maybe we should not have deadlines anymore for anything, we can start in schools for tests and homework move into business and civic support. We can all lay about and moan all the time we need more time and feel good knowing none of it matters any more since nobody cares. Just think of the economic repercussions, Fed Ex could change its motto to "When it absolutely positvely has to be there, eh when we get around to it" People will be thankful to get anything at that point.
I was going to finish this but I can do it in 9 months and I am sure people will read it then too.
It's just sad. The greatest technological country in the world has to take 3+ years to move to digital. And this final delay might be the nail in the coffin for smaller companies basing their business plans on releasing 'white space' products. Good job Barrak, you've been in office for a few weeks and you have shown the world that you are incapable of running this country. Why don't you just give me an address to send my entire paycheck so you can continue to run this country into the groud.
*Sigh.*
Obama is an idiot.
+1
+1
=2?
You guys should figure out the budget.
You couldn't be worse that what we have already.
In other news:
The national bird is now fried chicken.
That was uncalled for. I oppose a lot of Obama's policies, but that has nothing to do with his race.
Don't blame me, I voted for Ron Paul.
In 2012 the national bird will be the Turkey if Sarah Palin comes back...and you know what she does with turkeys.
kills them and eats them. which is what you're supposed to do with them.
So you're being racist against Sarah Palin? Caucasians are a race too.
of course..I love turkey (had some yesterday)...i was basically saying she'd kill the country..nevermind
Maybe I'm just naive, but what do turkeys have to do with racism against white people?
@Jake E,
I absolutely despise Obama (the politician, not on a personal level) and everything him and other left wing liberal "whackos" stand for, but definitely race has nothing to do with it. Your comment is not welcome.
Wasn't this thread orignally about Obama?
it was...looks like the thread needs a converter box...
Try doing some research:
1) Ed Markey called for a delay before Obama did and the Consumers Union agreed with him. I think it's clear that the delay was gaining traction - otherwise the pols wouldn't have even brought it to the floor to vote on.
2) The cock-up falls squarely on the FCC's shoulders under Michael Powell and Kevin Mitchell's leadership as the men George W. Bush appointed to that post and were clearly responsible for showing leadership in the situation, which they failed in doing.
3) Obama has been president for two WEEKS. This is one you can't blame him for. At all. He saw something he thought was a problem left over from the previous administration and asked congress to do something about it. Did you call your senators or US rep to tell them what you thought about passing the delay? Or did you pull the same old crap of just whining about it on the internets?
Obama's playing the game we elected him to play. Supporting a delay comes across as being concerned about low-income individuals and the elderly and, if there's no massive impact to the greater populace, it's clear that's something that's going to be supported.
So grow up - it doesn't matter if a handful of geeks commenting on a gadget blog agree or not if they don't speak up to the powers that be.
The negativity towards Obama about the analog cutoff is idiotic and totally uncalled for. He's been in office for two weeks. This process was started in congress as way a appear responsible in tending the needs of the lazy who havne't gotten their converter box yet, but in reality to avoid the public backlash when grandma has a snowy screen and can't watch Jerry Springer.
While I disagree with the reasoning behind the delay, I understand seeing the cluster #$%$ that is the digital transition and wanting to see if anyting could be done to make it go smoother. The current state of the analog cutoff is wholly the responsibility of the REPUBLICAN led FCC (Martin and Powell) under George the Incurious and his merry band of right wing wackos.
Sadly in four months, we will be in precisely the same spot and the people who aren't ready now, STILL will not be ready. Only by pulling the switch will the procrastinators get their act together. Pity that Congress lacks balls, whether controlled by bumbling elephants or asses.
"The current state of the analog cutoff is wholly the responsibility of the REPUBLICAN led FCC (Martin and Powell) under George the Incurious and his merry band of right wing wackos."
Yep, and the current state is, EVERYONE, including the broadcasters, and 98% percent of the viewers are ready to go, and have been for months. The hold up is 6.5 million losers.
This is the Consumer's Union statement:
Congress votes tomorrow! Tell your member the last thing we need in this economy is to pay for once-free TV.
Starting February 17th, the federal government has ordered U.S. television stations to turn off their analog signals and begin broadcasting only digital signals. And over 10 million of us will be left without TV and access to emergency alerts, news and information.
The government was supposed to help people buy converter boxes to get the new digital signals. But the coupon program has run out of money, leaving millions of consumers on a waiting list. And another 13 million are stuck with expired coupons.
Meanwhile, the federal government is expected to pocket $19 billion from selling the old airwaves. We should not be forced to spend cash to get TV while the government makes money.
We're all making hard choices in this economic climate. Tell Congress to vote Wednesday to delay the digital transition until these problems are fixed, and to stop shifting the economic burden onto consumers.
This statement is full in inaccuracies and frankly bullshit. Let's examine a few of the more salient points:
"13 million are stuck with expired coupons" So? fuck'em if they couldn't get off their ass and you know, head on down to wally world and pick up a box before the $40 tax payer funded coupon expired.
"And over 10 million of us will be left without TV and access to emergency alerts, news and information." The official numbers I've heard are closer to 6.5 million, and really, so what? they've had 2 years to purchase a 40 to 50 dollar piece of equipment.
"And over 10 million of us will be left without TV and access to emergency alerts, news and information." A blatant misrepresentation. the signal is still free. last time I checked, however, TVs were not free. Why don't we just give everyone a 42" plasma. For christ's sake. quit fucking whining.
"pocket $19 billion from selling the old airwaves." I don't think "pocket" is exactly the right word to use here.
In conclusion, there are a lot of inarguably and empirically stupid (to quote mrpoo), lazy and cheap people in this country that want the government to pay for everything. I said it before, and I'll say it again: Fuck'em.
so is everyone cheering for the delay
And your a professor at which Ivy League university?
it was too confusing after 2 years. better move it around 15 times. i know the local best buy only has about 9,000 of these boxes in stock. AHHHHH! just do it!
Um, I gues the date has been... Changed.
Plug the plug!!!!
Dont you mean,
"Pull the plug?"
no he was right
FFFF-ING GAY! way to move ahead
I fail to see what is homosexual about this.
@DeoWulf: I think he's saying he's happy about the delay. ;)
Look.
99% of engadget readers are unaffected by the digital switchover. Most use cable and/or have new TVs. So yeah, it may be annoying to us, but there are millions upon millions of low income Americans who get their news (and entertainment) exclusively from OTA and have old TV's. And millions don't have converter boxes because the government ran out of coupons.
So while you grumble about having to wait four more months for a switchover that will not affect you, think about the people it will affect.
the irony behind this whole situation is that (according to cnn) the GOP claims that additional funding for the coupon program is "wasteful earmark" spending. so now they delay the transition without actually wanting to allot more funding to allow it happen smoother once it actually does....
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/gop.stimulus.worries/index.html
I don't get it. Are you saying the GOP wants a delay and doesn't want to fund it? I'm sure that a lot of Republicans voted to move the date, but the last time I checked both congress and executive branched were under Democratic control. Obama's team asked for this, and the congress gave in.
Idiots on both sides of the isle.
i'm just restating what the cnn article said about the GOP's position on the stimulus package. you're right tho, both sides are guilty on the overall transition delay...
A majority of House members voted last week to push back the implementation of digital TV. But the House considered that measure under special rules that required a supermajority of lawmakers to approve that plan.
Thursday's bill required a simple, majority vote.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs indicated that President Obama will sign this bill. Gibbs said the delay was important to ensure no interruption for people with televisions.
** Many Republicans argued against the delay. They suggested that people who haven't purchased converter boxes or retrofitted their televisions won't be ready regardless of a new June deadline. **
That's not the irony here. The GOP in congress didn't pass this bill. I seem to remember an election where Democrats controlled both the House and Senate, but obviously the minority of Congress is solely responsible for the passing of this bill.
The article you linked talks about what the GOP leaders believe is wasteful spending in the stimulus package. The House voted 264-158 to pass this bill. There are 178 republicans in the House. So, in essence, many of these leaders that the CNN page refer to may have opposed the bill.
The irony of this is that we may never reach a "hard date", and instead have delay after delay. Hopefully many of the stations will switch over on the 17th, since they've already prepared for it (hopefully).
From another article - sounds like the GOP did their best to hold to the Feb 17 date:
"Wednesday's vote came one week after House Republicans blocked the bill under a special fast-track procedure that required two-thirds support to pass. This time, the bill passed the House under a regular floor vote, which only requires a simple majority."
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090204/D9650RL01.html
@ a ham sandwich:
That's also what you get from listening to CNN...cleverly worded misinformation.
AP FTW.
Not the "Change" we had in mind Obama
Oh you see, he didnt actually mean he is going to change anything he meant change as when things get done.
If this isn't a cult of personality, what is?
Everybody, including many in public office, thinks that everything he says and does is amazing and right.
Dictatorship soon?
(Door opens, a bag is thrown over my head and I'm dragged out of my house by a team of FBI agents)
@Julio: You mean like with the "You're either with us or you're with the terrorists" bull the last administration pulled? After all of that and you're claiming a possible dictatorship from a man asking for a delay on a transition from analog to digital broadcasting?
Sometimes I seriously wonder about the cognitive abilities of various people who read this blog.
any cries of dictatorship after the Patriot Act was pasted Julio?
These comments prove my point. Just because I say something about Obama, I'm a George Bush apologist? No, I'm not a Republican, I'm not a Bush Supporter. But you guys want to jump on my back? I'm politically neutral, but what I find uneasy is when someone in that position is idealized to the extent that so many people think he can do no wrong. Should we call him "Dear Leader" like the N. Koreans call Kim Jong-il?
Now THAT is "change you can believe in"
Are they trying to complicate this process as much as possible? Seriously, if you haven't seen the advertisements that tell you what to do in order to prepare, you must not watch TV very often.
So Richard, if Obama hasn't signed it yet, is it really official?
Obama was the one who initially suggested moving the date back. This whole thing started with him. There's no way he doesn't sign this.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs indicated that President Obama will sign this bill. Gibbs said the delay was important to ensure no interruption for people with televisions.
If I remember right, Obama wasnt the one who suggested to move the date. His transition team was approached and decided to support it. Im not going to say he doesnt want to do it, just saying you guys can not say its all his fault this is happening. Yes his support means something but it wasnt his idea.
Lame.
Why the hell is the govt. offering coupons anyway?
Just do it already. If people were too slow to get a coupon, it's their own dang fault.
Coupon eligible converter box.
http://www.bestdealsonar.com/good-and-cheap-zinwell-zat-950a-digital-to-analog-tv-converter-box/
http://www.bestdealsonar.com/20-off-access-hd-1080d-ntia-approved-digital-to-analog-tv-converter-box/
Shouldn't Obama be focusing on other more important issues instead of helping PROCRASTINATORS procrastinate even further ?
what a freaking waste ..... REALLY !!!
Now does the signal get progressively more fuzzy as we approach the date?
This is stupid, they should have just flipped the switch.
Dang it! And I was hoping my research between the correlation of TV transmissions and cancer rising would finally pan out. It's an independent hobby research thing I started. Who knows, maybe some of my conclusions will turn out to be right. Oh well at least it'll be Summer Time.
Thanks to Axxo and Fxg I barely hardly rarely watch television anymore! And when I do watch it, its on my TiVo!
Can't wait until axxo releases the superbowl.
And real pirates prefer h.264 mkvs or m2ts over 1 cd xvid rips.
what a fuck up!
Flash forward to June 1st, 2009:
The US Senate today voted to delay the digital tv (DTV) transition until December 12, 2009. The House of Representatives pushed the measure through, and President Obama is expected to sign it.
Flash forward to December 1, 2009:
The US Senate today voted to delay the digital tv (DTV) transition until June 12, 2010. The House of Representatives pushed the measure through, and President Obama is expected to sign it.
And so on, and so on, and so on.
alright 4 more months of warnings ive been seeing for over 2 years.
About what I expected from our Democrat controlled White House and Congress. This had less to do with the actual problems of the DTV transition (hint: the same people procrastinating now, will be doing it in June as well), than a political pandering to make politicians look like they "care".
I would not be surprised if in June, we have another extension, since their will be "so many people that will lose the tv service"
It's not official until Obama signs it. We all know he will (short of a terrorist attack using CIP device threatening to cause an attack if he goes through with the DTV delay)
Nah Jack Bauer will be there to stop it with the help of Tony, Chloe, & Bill.
If someone can afford a TV in the first place then why cant they afford a one time payment to keep watching it years later?
Do you see that old lady in the picture and her TV? Does it look like she bought that TV recently? She's on a fixed income and can't afford to fork out $40 for a converter box herself, let alone a brand new digital TV. She never asked for this DTV transition and she was perfectly happy with her analog TV, so why is this being shoved down her throat?
The government should have just set the shutoff date to June of last year, that way they could have delayed it till February and it would have met the real deadline. Of course, then the lot of you would probably be crying because it wasn't done in June.
Personally I don't care. I got my DTV coupon and converter, but I almost never watch television, analog or digital.
If your crying about the delay, your just as much a bunch of whiners as Grandma Edna up there is.
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain
I was told you should always start out a speach with a joke, so here's mine: Congress.
- Not Sure
This does not mean that people will go out and get a converter box.. they will just wait longer, besides which the gov't does not have any money.. Lets hurry up and get this done. I want to see free wifi courtesy of google and this will just postpone the improvement of cell networks! dammit this sux.
It is actually just over 6 million who are not ready. A small percentage of the whole population. Just do it already!
...
=\
Wow that granny is soo freakin HOT. Just kiddin LOL.
Idiotic. Who honestly thinks that anyone who wanted to get a box could not get a box already? Those sad, poor souls who are just not prepared had every chance to request a coupon (IF they even want to fool with the trouble of getting one) just like anyone else. Why did they not do it when they had the chance? Did they not see the freaking bajillions of PSA's plastered on every cable and broadcast channel for the past year? Yet another undeserving bailout.
TV is not a right.
Thats great. 6.5million people are unprepared, this delay will drop that down to 6.49million people being unprepared by June 12.
The people who havent gotten a box yet are never going to get a box, not until AFTER their TV stops working.
The worst part is that the 6.5 million only account for about 2% of the population. So 2% of America can't watch TV for a day, big deal.
From the Chair of the FCC:
...we’ve been proactively examining broadcast coverage issues to try to determine
which consumers are most at risk of losing reception because of the transition. And let’s
make sure we all understand this: some consumers, through no fault of their own, are
going to lose one or more channels as a result of the transition. They may pick up other
channels that they previously couldn’t receive or the current ones may come back later as
stations deploy Distributed Transmission Systems or make other arrangements, but on
February 18, some homes will not pick up all the stations they are receiving now. All the
“how to” advice in the world won’t help a consumer if the signal doesn’t reach them. We
have a deep and serious obligation to get this word out, proactively, so consumers know
what’s happening and understand what options may be available to them. That we did
not understand this better long ago through better analysis, tests and trial runs is, to me,
mind-boggling.
Where was this information about a year ago...
coverage problems...
they havent even fully discussed closed captioning for digital... What has the FCC been doing? Just printing bad "IOU 1 decoder" coupons?
You can thank eight years of incompetent leadership at the FCC under Powell and Martin...both appointees of Republican George W Bush.
So... They are doing this for people who couldn't round up $40 over the course of several years for a converter box?
So annoying! just do it already!