Philosophy
Now consider this..."Rockford, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga."--heads up. We in the Midwest are moving from late Winter into early Spring...the time of radical climate changes--violent storms. There has already been one in Oklahoma. For farmers and ordinary citizens in those areas, there is a dependency on accurate weather information, commercial and at home, via analog broadcasting. If there are injuries or loss of life because there are no analog television broadcasts, it will certainly underline the ineptness of this unthoughtful communications program.
NEW YORK — Though hundreds of TV stations are turning off their analog signals next week, households in line for their $40 coupons for digital converter boxes are likely to have to wait at least several weeks longer.
The fund that subsidizes the coupons has reached its authorized limit. It's still sending out around 100,000 coupons a day as older coupons expire unused, but there's a wait list of 4 million coupons. At that rate, it would take the National Telecommunications and Information Administration about two months to process coupon requests made today.
The stimulus bill in Congress contains added funding for the program. When it takes effect, the NTIA will be able to clear the backlog in two weeks, said spokesman Bart Forbes.
Mindful of the funding shortfall, Congress extended the deadline for cutting analog broadcasts to June 12 from Feb. 17. But about a third of all full-power stations have either already turned off their analog signal or have applied to stick to Tuesday's date.
Markets where many or all major-network stations plan to turn off analog transmissions next week are San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif.; Providence; La Crosse and Madison, Wis.; Rockford, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga.; Scranton, Pa.; and Burlington, Vt.
The NTIA can't give priority to coupon requests from households in those areas, Forbes said. It is legally obligated to send out coupons on a first-come-first-served basis.
DTV officially postponed
More on DTV...Kansas City style
Done deal...analog broadcasting switch on hold
Jacques Steinberg's esaay on DTV switch
The House negates digital delay
Digital TV switchover is postponed
Junk televisions and recycling
- Bunglers Of The Spectrum
The following article sums up the debacle. "How We Bungled the Digital Television Transition" by Eliot Van Buskirk February 20th, 2009 Wired America's transition to over-the-air digital television signals, which netted the government $19 billion...
- Dtv Officially Postponed
Four more months of chaos and cost. "Obama signs bill delaying switch to digital TV" Some stations have asked permission to turn off analog signals on the originally planned date -- Tuesday. by Jim Puzzanghera February 12TH, 2009 Los Angeles Times ...
- More On Dtv...kansas City Style
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."--Oliver Hardy to Stan Laurel. What a costly debacle by the Federal Government. "KC stations to delay DTV switch after all" by Aaron Barnhart February 7th, 2009 The Kansas City Star Kansas...
- Done Deal...analog Broadcasting Switch On Hold
Congress has finally put a hold on the switch from analog to digital broadcasting. "House Votes to Delay Switch to Digital Television" February 4th, 2009 The Associated Press Congress voted Wednesday to give consumers four more months to prepare for...
- Digital Tv Switchover Is Postponed
It has passed the Senate and the House will probably do the same...so hold off on throwing that old TV by the roadside. "Digital TV Switchover Delay Gathers Steam in Congress" by John C Abell January 27th, 2009 Wired The Senate has voted to delay for...
Philosophy
Analog broadcasting signals will cease for some
"Markets where many or all major-network stations plan to turn off analog transmissions next week are San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif.; Providence; La Crosse and Madison, Wis.; Rockford, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga.; Scranton, Pa.; and Burlington, Vt."
Now consider this..."Rockford, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga."--heads up. We in the Midwest are moving from late Winter into early Spring...the time of radical climate changes--violent storms. There has already been one in Oklahoma. For farmers and ordinary citizens in those areas, there is a dependency on accurate weather information, commercial and at home, via analog broadcasting. If there are injuries or loss of life because there are no analog television broadcasts, it will certainly underline the ineptness of this unthoughtful communications program.
"Backlog still large for TV converter box coupons"
by
Peter Svensson
Associated Press
by
Peter Svensson
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Though hundreds of TV stations are turning off their analog signals next week, households in line for their $40 coupons for digital converter boxes are likely to have to wait at least several weeks longer.
The fund that subsidizes the coupons has reached its authorized limit. It's still sending out around 100,000 coupons a day as older coupons expire unused, but there's a wait list of 4 million coupons. At that rate, it would take the National Telecommunications and Information Administration about two months to process coupon requests made today.
The stimulus bill in Congress contains added funding for the program. When it takes effect, the NTIA will be able to clear the backlog in two weeks, said spokesman Bart Forbes.
Mindful of the funding shortfall, Congress extended the deadline for cutting analog broadcasts to June 12 from Feb. 17. But about a third of all full-power stations have either already turned off their analog signal or have applied to stick to Tuesday's date.
Markets where many or all major-network stations plan to turn off analog transmissions next week are San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif.; Providence; La Crosse and Madison, Wis.; Rockford, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga.; Scranton, Pa.; and Burlington, Vt.
The NTIA can't give priority to coupon requests from households in those areas, Forbes said. It is legally obligated to send out coupons on a first-come-first-served basis.
DTV officially postponed
More on DTV...Kansas City style
Done deal...analog broadcasting switch on hold
Jacques Steinberg's esaay on DTV switch
The House negates digital delay
Digital TV switchover is postponed
Junk televisions and recycling
- Bunglers Of The Spectrum
The following article sums up the debacle. "How We Bungled the Digital Television Transition" by Eliot Van Buskirk February 20th, 2009 Wired America's transition to over-the-air digital television signals, which netted the government $19 billion...
- Dtv Officially Postponed
Four more months of chaos and cost. "Obama signs bill delaying switch to digital TV" Some stations have asked permission to turn off analog signals on the originally planned date -- Tuesday. by Jim Puzzanghera February 12TH, 2009 Los Angeles Times ...
- More On Dtv...kansas City Style
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."--Oliver Hardy to Stan Laurel. What a costly debacle by the Federal Government. "KC stations to delay DTV switch after all" by Aaron Barnhart February 7th, 2009 The Kansas City Star Kansas...
- Done Deal...analog Broadcasting Switch On Hold
Congress has finally put a hold on the switch from analog to digital broadcasting. "House Votes to Delay Switch to Digital Television" February 4th, 2009 The Associated Press Congress voted Wednesday to give consumers four more months to prepare for...
- Digital Tv Switchover Is Postponed
It has passed the Senate and the House will probably do the same...so hold off on throwing that old TV by the roadside. "Digital TV Switchover Delay Gathers Steam in Congress" by John C Abell January 27th, 2009 Wired The Senate has voted to delay for...