Posted by
MAXINE on Monday, January 26, 2009 11:14:01 PM
This
whole television transition is one big bloated boondoggle. These stores
and the converter box makers scored with this one. For one, the coupons
are good only with stand-alone devices that will convert the signals
and not for multi-purpose devices like VCRs, televisions, etc. that
build in a converter. Two, television broadcasters don’t need to pay a
penny for their broadcast licenses. Three, the converters are expected
to cost $75 or more. Four, the converter boxes don’t even include a
V-chip (this was a missed opportunity to get a V-chip in every home).
There is more to complain about, but I’ll spare myself the time and
effort. Caption & Image Credit: Reports From My Nanocosm
Digital Signal Held Hostage For Four Months
We are in the middle of a Converter Box/Digital Signal conversion hostage crisis!
Yes,
that is right, the NEW Carter Administration (the Obama 44th
Presidency) has it’s first hostage situation and it was created by a
request from the office of the President Barack Obama.
The
reason given for the delay approved for by the Senate in all digital
broadcast conversion was that the FCC ran out of money to fund its
$40.00 converter coupon give-away program which would allow those
people who receive their television signal through the general
broadcast method (without Cable or Satellite Dish) to receive and
decode the new digital signal.
What may be more to the truth,
Barack Obama wants to make sure all citizens under his control will be
able to see the news he and his administration creates as they meddle
with our capitalistic based economy in a really big socialistic way.
I
don’t generally shop in Wal*Mart (ruthless and toothless); however the
converter box cost $10 after the coupon ($50 retail price). That beat
the $65 charged by Radio Shack for a no brand item. The nice thing I
found out about this box is that it includes a V-Chip intended to let
parents filter out inappropriate content from their youngsters. It is
likely that most people who rely on the government coupons to purchase
a converter box will not have televisions built since 2000 when the
V-Chip was mandated. The program is still a boondoggle, just not as big
as I had previously made it out to be. Caption & Image Credit:
Reports From My Nanocosm
This excerpted and edited from the Sacramento Bee -
Senate approves four-month delay in digital TV conversion
Sacramento Bee via Associated Press - Published: Monday, Jan. 26, 2009
The Senate today approved a four-month delay in digital TV conversion.
----
The latest estimate is that more than 6.5 million households are not prepared for the switch.
The
National Association of Broadcasters had not taken a position on
extending the deadline. The TV stations don't want to suddenly alienate
and lose viewers, but they've also sunk money into preparing for the
Feb. 17 transition.
Delaying
the transition would cost public broadcasters $22 million, the PBS
system chief estimated on Monday. The stations will face increased
power charges to maintain over-the-air broadcast signals, said Paula
Kerger, president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting System.
Reference Here>>
Americans
have had about one year to prepare for this digital signal conversion
so now our broadcast standards, well, are being held hostage on only
the sixth day here in Carter’s Second Term.
We are in the middle of a Converter Box/Digital Signal conversion hostage crisis!