Comments on: Obama urges Congress to postpone DTV transition

In a letter sent to Congress Thursday, the Obama transition team asked Congress to consider postponing the underfunded national switch to digital broadcasting.

[dnha14]

This is the biggest problem we face as a Nation. Everytime a goal is set and people can't get it together, the time is extended, the bar is lowered, or worse, Congress (please help us) does something about it. It is time that the concept of negative consequences returns to our culture. How many years has this been going on? If people aren't ready, then no TV for them. Enough of everyone getting a trophy. Enough of never having to feel the effects of failure. Maybe they will learn for the next issue to arise...or not.

[ariess63]

I found that the companys producing the converter boxes were not ready either. I applied for my coupon on Jan 1st of last year and received my coupon around the beginning of March. But I had to wait almost a month to be able to buy a converter box. Well, one that didn't cost $60 to $80. And yes I did receive more and clearer channels, that was until Hurricane Ike went and blew the antenna off the roof of my apartment building and the owners refuse to replace it. But I put the money out and got myself a good indoor antenna, so all is well again. The one thing I found particulary amusing though was that a couple of the networks were having shows about the change to DTV on only their digital channels (2.2, 13.2). If you didn't already have DTV how was this goiing to help? I mean really!!!

[walt1944]

The cable and satellite companies have discovered in horror that with the advent of the digital age in the "FREE TV" market, that viewers may get as many as 50 FREE channels with only a minimal one-time cash outlay of $60 for the digital converter and another $60 for the "smart" TV antenna to pick up and lock onto the signals!

With the possibility of 50 FREE digital, cable-quality channels and the added ability to watch any shows not available in the FREE market thru web sites on computer, who needs cable or satellite TV???

Companies such as Comcast, Time-Warner, AT&T, and Direct TV are screaming at Congress to:

1) Cut off federal funding of the $40 coupon offer towards buying a digital converter.
2) Delaying the advent of mandatory digital TV broadcasting from February 17, 2009, to February 17, 3009!!!
3) Demanding that access be blocked to TV web sites, such as SciFi, A&E, and the History Channel which carry full episodes of programs not available to the FREE market but which can be viewed for FREE on the web! If the Chinese can do it, why can't they?
4) Demand to get on the list of corporations seeking a federal BAILOUT!!!

Why can't the consumer ever win anything???

[Get_Bent]

I have one thing to say about this to President-elect Obama: It's time for a change. If the funds for digital converters has run dry, take some of the money that the FCC plans to make from selling the spectrum and use that to shore it up.

Oh, and one more thing: you have bigger issues to worry about than whether or not people can watch TV....

[rdupuy11]

Much better to have a bad rollout in February than to delay it.

A delay is a bad rollout. Don't forget that. A delay causes mass confusion, mass costs, and burdens the majority of people you are trying to protect. Can't afford a converter box? Well when the majority of people who feel they cannot afford this change, have already paid for it...its a double slap in the face that you don't even get the new technology promised.

And the worst of it all, is after delaying, they will flub the next rollout date too.

I am shocked to find Obama supporting this fool hearty move. I hope he can get better advisers than this.

[chambcm]

What a joke. I knew this would happen. People had years of advance warning and now because a small fraction of lazy, whiny people didn't take any action they want another delay. Enough is enough. People will not die or lose quality of life without TV. But, with the Democrats back in charge, they have to make sure everyone gets their free handout...

This has to be some kind of joke. The government has the responsibility of sending out coupons???? You have to be kidding me. Anyone that is not ready for this "big switch" is a moron. Don't even try the poverty card as you are posting to an online forum in the middle of the day. You can't save $40 in two years but you can post things online in the middle of the day. How pathetic! Stop looking for a handout.

[mgarc1125]

No! No more postponing! Be done with it!

[oldguytoo]

Forcing people away from analog limits our freedom.
Thank you techhead geeks.

The government forces the broadcaster to broadcast in analog. If they didn't do this the broadcasters would let the customers decide via the avenue that they are consuming.

[bsarte]

Can you show me in the Constitution where it says the government has to subsidize your ability to watch TV?

[oldguytoo]

Broadcasters would broadcast the cheapest way possible rather than offering consumers a choice.

[Dave543]

Advancement of technology shouldn't be delayed because of a few idiots.

[oldguytoo]

Advancement of technology should not always be enacted just because the ability is achieved.
Common sense is woefully lacking by many of those with technical skill.
Idiots abound on all levels.
Obama does not want to leave a sizable portion of the US citizens uninformed because of a forced loss of TV signal, as this is not ready to go except maybe on the coasts.
Wake up tech heads! It's not just your country. You need to get off your self provided pedestals and "get real". Come down from the clouds.

[old3eyes]

Just do it. Joe 6pack will never got round to setting up a digital anything unless he is forced to ..

[nocman]

No turning back now. Leave the date alone.

I got my two over 6 months ago. Ond for an old bedroom set and the other i gave to an 84 year old friend.
But even she had seen the messages on tv many times. Its time to buy a new tv for those who have waited this long to apply for the converter cupon

[djcrazy-mpls]

No more rollbacks. Actually what I really want to know is why nonconforming sets are still being manufactured and sold. One would think it should have been mandatory over the last couple of years that any new units have an ATSC tuner.

[ariess63]

They have not been making alalog TVfor about a year now. To me, it would be wasteful to buy a new TV, when the one I have still works. There would sure be alot of TVs in our landfills otherwise. But the change over should go along as planned.

Wilmington, NC has switched to all digital in Nov or Dec. First one in country. Runs like a swiss watch. NO problems. Soomeone needs to hold our leaders' hands. Why does US make things more complicated than they really are. I am engineer. Maybe we need MORE.

[gysgtusmc74]

Good Lord. Why are the taxpayers having to pony up. Typical lib BS. I would like a new boat. How about giving me some money for my down payment. Guess we will see a lot more handouts now that we have an Obamanation on our hands.