Comments on: Congress approves delay of digital-TV transition

The House of Representatives votes to delay the national transition to digital broadcasting. The bill now awaits the president's signature.

[wolivere]

How many years did people have to get ready for this? How much advertising has been done this past year? And still a delay?

[xcal78]

Maybe we can string it out till Feb 2012. I'd be willing to bet money on the fact the same people who object today will object then for the same reasons. You can't wait till everyone is ready because they will never happen. Just Cutover and let's be done with it. Allow people to claim a $50 credit on their 2009 taxes instead of this coupon stuff if you must but let's do it so the cable companies can stop dual broadcasting.

[MacMaster29]

This is what happens when we elect a President who believes he has to cater to everyone. Its plain and simple politics. People have had a ridiculous amount of time to get their boxes and its been advertised for at least 3-4 years. And if I recall, this is the second time this is delayed and it will continue to happen because its been turned into a political issue. I'm sorry, but I have no mercy for those who haven't yet switched when you've had all the time in the world to do so!

[xcal78]

And this has exactly what to do with Obama or any president? The House of Representatives made the decision. For the record Bush's administration was the hold up but this isn't a matter of dem vs rep as people make it out to be. This has been an issue since about 2004.

[dude7895]

What the hell?

[ddhboy]

Question. Who doesn't have Cable or Satellite by now anyway? Apparently 83% of America doesn't use the antenna signals, and if you do, you've heard about this transition since last year at the latest. According to the Nielsen reports just over 2% of America isn't prepared. Clearly, America is ready for the transition, and the 2% that aren't are simply too lazy to be bothered until they don't have TV anymore. Cut them loose and let them take care of things on their own, instead of burdening the television stations who will more than likely cut some of their staff to save on the costs of broadcasting both digital and traditional signals.

[bonesbautista]

I don't have cable or sat, use OTA. But I was a good boy and got my digital antenna last summer and am good to go. In your defense, I only know one other guy - and he's cheap - getting an OTA signal, everybody else I know is hooked up to cable or sat.

[susie3344]

I just want ddhboy to be aware that there are alot of us that do NOT have Cable or Satellite. One, it is an extra cost many of us can not afford...I live in a rural town in central MA and please be aware Cable is not even in our town and there are no plans for it to ever be here as the Cable company says it is not worthwhile to put it in our town...There are many of us in our area that are relieved that the Senate has approved a delay. I got my discount cards early on and discovered that in our area even with the boxes I am only able to get one digital channel...and even that was pixalated...hopefully once I buy a digital type antenna my boxes will work...I have my fingers crossed...I just wanted you to know that we are not too lazy to be bothered but are working through the problems the best we can...

[brief]

@susie3344: You do not need special "digital" antennas to receive the digital signals--the old standard VHF/UHF antenna should pick them up just fine. As you are in a rural area, the signal might be weaker where you are. You can check what signals are in your area at http://www.tvfool.com/, and figure out what direction your antenna should be pointing at, and if you need an outdoor antenna (if the signals are too far away).

If the signals in your area are all in the UHF range, you can build your own antenna: http://uhfhdtvantenna.blogspot.com/

[meh130]

If 83% is correct, and the U.S. has 100 million households, that means 17 million households may need converters. With $1.3B spent on $40 coupons, that should have bought 32.5 million converters, enough for two per household (which I believe was the limit per household).

Will somebody explain to me (1) how 32.5 million converter boxes purchased foe 17 million homes is somehow a problem, (2) how on Earth this is George Bush's fault, and (3) how 16.25 million more converter boxes are going to solve this problem?

[xcal78]

Can't we just turn off analog then their tv's will stop working thus saving them money each month in valuable power bills since they can't afford a converter to start with?

[mtf612]

This is ridiculous. How many more months are needed ?Other than the fact that the transition is now my birthday, this sucks. And what if you just spent 50 bucks on a tuner? What a joke.

[Pete Bardo]

WTH? This was a horrible idea to begin with. I'm not affect by this at all--I got cable. And there's no reason local broadcasters need to to both. There are markets that have already switched.

Oh, I would be sooooo disappointed if I couldn't get TV and all the state sponsored propaganda that it brings! Oh, and the wide ranges of choices of entertainment that broadcast tv has to offer. What? No Regis & Kelley, no View? The horror!

[loadofchyt]

I have to agree with you, Pete.

Also, I'm still trying t figure out what the heck the govt has to do with whether I have a functioning tv in my house at all. Why should they care? Why do they care? Why are they so desperate to make sure that I do?

There is a lot more to this story than we are being told, people.

[b3nw]

guess we'll find out if obama will actually wait 5 days and post the full text of all bills before signing them.

[karpenterskids]

Say what you will...but the Republicans were right.

[BCF1968]

1 out of 7 republicans in the house actually voted for this. That should scare anyone.

[brandonh33]

The scary thing is that a Republican actually voted for this. I have one question for them. What the hell?

[Shaun822]

If you just spent 50 bucks on a tuner then you are ahead of the curve.

[jug831]

This is a joke. Talk about wasted money on advertising. How much did the FCC spend on that? And will they ramp up the ads again in May? How much will that cost? Oh wait, I forgot that there are unlimited funds available from Uncle Sam. Just ask Bank of America and Citi!

[WizTechie]

Didn't America vote for "Change"? So much for that idea.

[MrGadgetman]

That's funny.

[GlennAllen]

I guess the telcos are going to have to wait another few months before being able to take possession of that billions of dollars worth of spectrum they're paying for. I wonder... will the govt. have to pay a penalty for not "delivering" that spectrum as scheduled? After more than a decade of planning and more than a year of "warnings" (PSAs), there will still be some number--an extremely small number (just like now)--of individuals who will be unprepared for DTV and will be "in the dark"... and they deserve to be (right there along with their congressmen).

[loadofchyt]

"In the dark"?!

Why? Because they do not have Flava' Flave and his nasty hos in their faces every night? Or because they will miss watching women with their mouths open and legs open even wider? Or perhaps they will be in the dark because they will not be advertised to by the millions of mind-numbing, brain-washing ads that flow thru tv every day.

In my opinion, tv has done all the damage it should be allowed to do to this country.

Hollywood is run by a handful of racist who have used every deceitful trick in the book on an unsuspecting public to shape our morality and ethics into their idea of what is right, good and true.

It used to be that television reflected the morals of our society - but not anymore. Today we have entire generations of children being brain-washed into believing that soulless ***** like Paris Hilton are persons to be admired.

Today we have little boys growing up in America who believe that their entire life goal should be to get on American Idol or Jerry Springer, if they miss AI.

Truly, the only people who are going to be in the dark are those that don't miss the boat on this one.

[bgnm]

Just another example of Democrats lying through their teeth. Why do people keep voting for them?

[darfjono]

you're so funny!

[solitare_pax]

Because the alternative is just as bad?

[brandonh33]

Because Obama is apparently the new Jesus. This should show you where the different parties agendas are. Republicans are trying to stop this pointless spending while the Democrats are rolling out the checks like its 1999. I honestly usually hate to point fingers like this, but in times like this its so blatantly obvious, and it truly makes me angry that such a large percentage of the American people do not realize what $700 million is and how much this is going to hurt in the long run.

[csg7]

Even in June they will find out that some million people are not ready, then what !!? there are always going to be some who will never be ready, so just do it and have the ones left out go fix it.
Yes we can !

[brandonh33]

I guess that the plan is to strech this out for a few more years untill the older generation is gone. Please dont take that comment offensive, but this situation is just out of hand. Cut off the analog signal, that is how you advertise the DTV transition. And guess what? Its free! How are they passing up free advertisment?

The real problem is that the boneheads and procrastinators won't be ready in june either. Let their TV's go blank and then maybe they will get their act toghether

[kevsmail]

Sigh.

They still think Americans are idiots and don't understand what's going to happen on Feb 17??

[lnxpro]

WTH? this is stupid. cut it off already. if we still delay it then people will still complain that they are not ready because they will think, oh, we'll get another delay... turn the darn thing off. i personally don't know anyone that uses OTA signals anymore. I use Digital for a few channels and have cable for all other TVs...

[richard petty--2008]

This new flash just arrived:

"Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalissimo_Francisco_Franco_is_still_dead

I vote that we stretch this out another 2 years or so.

[tipoo_]

ah, pooh. just do it already, i HATE the PQ on analogue stations!

[kyle2dotcom]

This is going to take forever. Let 10% of American's be without TV. Just get this done with.

[loadofchyt]

Why the 'urgency'? Of what benefit is this to you, personally?

Of what benefit is the transition to America?

Do you know whats going to happen with all those old analog transmission channels?

No, I didn't think you did.

They are going to be used strictly by police, military and homeland security. Have you asked yourself why they think they are going to need such a massive communication relay right here in America? Within our own borders?

Why would they need that, anyway?

[WulfTheSaxon]

I wonder what exactly the "benefits" of using a converter box McDowell is trumpeting are... I certainly don't see any benefit of converting a signal back and forth between analog and digital willy-nilly, do you?

Digital TV is great... /If you actually have a digital TV/. With a converter box, on the other hand, you've still got many of the detriments of analog, combined with all the detriments of digital.

Like I've been saying since the coupon program was first announced, they should've applied to TVs as well. Buying a converter box for your primary TV is a very bad idea...

[sanenazok]

What are the benefits of a DTV box for an old analog TV: improved quality of sound and picture, access to new multicast channels, built in program guide, additional cc/voice tracks, and others.

I have my DTV converter box (bought in Feb. 2008) connected to my only TV: an old solid-state Sony with knobs for tuner selection (it looks a lot like http://home.snafu.de/wumpus/rdfmu44.jpg). The picture quality can't be beat. With the DTV box I can change channels using the remote, too, but granted 99% of analog TV users already have remotes.

[tigerjuju]

wow, there are so many problems with your statement, not sure where to begin...
If you have actually experienced DTV or read all the info out there about DTV, you would know about all of the extra benefits from DTV.

Base on your comment, you don't seem to know the difference between digital TV and HDTV. Read more about it.

The coupon is meant to help people to be able to continue getting TV over-the-air using their existing TV. It's not meant to help people get a TV upgrade at home.

[xcal78]

@WulfTheSaxon

I can't say anything but WOW and LOL.