Obama calls for delay to digital switchover
By John Lister
President-elect Barack Obama has called for a delay to the impending switchover to all-digital TV broadcasting. But Congress would have to approve such a move and opponents warn it would simply increase confusion.
As things stand, broadcasters will switch off analog signals on Feb. 17. Because digital signals are more efficient, the move will free up frequencies which the government plans to auction for services such as wireless Internet.
Obama’s transition team has written to leading politicians warning that a delay is necessary because a plan to subsidize conversion boxes doesn’t have enough funding to reach everyone who needs help.
One survey suggests nearly 8 million homes still don’t have either a digital TV or a converter box. And there are more than a million people already on the waiting list for a government-funded $40 coupon towards boxes which allow traditional analog TVs to receive digital broadcasts. It appears demand for the coupons is much higher than expected because, with people feeling the economic pinch, they are now much more likely to opt for a converter box than buying a new TV set.
Rules on public spending mean the National Telecommunications and Information Agency, which is overseeing the scheme, can only spend its originally budgeted $1.34 billion on the vouchers — which has now run out. Unless Congress approves a special exemption to spending rules, the NTIA can only issue new vouchers after the 90-day validity of existing vouchers expires.
The other option, which Obama’s team favors, is to delay the switchover itself, allowing time for everyone who wants one to get a voucher. That idea would also allow longer for officials to prepare for the switchover itself, particularly dealing with public inquiries when analog-only sets go dark.
The National Association of Broadcasters didn’t outright reject the idea of delaying the switchover, but vice president Dennis Wharton implied it would cause confusion: “”The certainty created when Congress set the February 17 hard date for the DTV transition was a positive catalyst for broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers, public safety groups, consumers and the government.”
It’s thought some networks would oppose a delay because they have already delayed new series launches to coincide with the buzz of the switchover. There’s also an argument that a delay would undermine the work that’s already been done to publicize the changeover date.
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January 9th, 2009
The government needs to stay out of it altogether; $1.34 Billion spent and they want to spend more?
Sound to me like the procrastinators who aren’t ready for something that is over a year in the making need to feel the pinch of being without a television for a day.
And you thought Obama wanted change.
January 10th, 2009
I was one of the people who filed and received two vouchers. When I did it, they didn’t have the information about the 90 day expiration deadline up front and large. I received the envelope and filed it intending to use them 4th quarter last year thinking better features for a lower price would be in play.
I saw a story about the process being flawed in May, there wasn’t enough supply to fill orders and people couldn’t use the coupons before they expired. I pulled mine out, and sure enough they expired in March.
My responsibility to check them, my fault. I had assumed they would not expire prior to the the switchover. The units were not widely available in the 1st quarter of ‘08 anyway. The rolling expiration was to allow the money from the coupons to be spaced out and also make spotting fraud easier.
Once they send a coupon, it can’t be reissued or the expiration extended. I saw in June less than half of the coupons issued got redeemed prior to expiration, primarily because of availability of the convectors. It’s not because of procrastination, the procrastinators will actually get their boxes.
The agency administering the program have their hands tied, Congress would need to act. They have been aware of the problem, there has been a heavy volume of pointed communications from pissed citizens and been a subject of debate on the floor last May.
If you think the idea of these coupons are just another way the government pointlessly blow money, ‘tain so. The bands of communication frequencies belong to the citizens of this country.
The FCC is supposed to ensure each citizen gets to enjoy the benefits. When they decided to flip the digital switch it was entirely proper to earmark some of the billions they realized from auctioning the analog bands to minimize the financial impact of the action. It also impacts minorities and the poor to a much greater degree.
If our Congress actually responded to solve the issue back in the 1st quarter of ‘07 when the issue was first pointed out, it could have been quickly and inexpensively resolved. The real pisser is they count the outstanding coupons as spent, expired or not. They have not spend that money.
January 10th, 2009
Ridiculous. But it will get attention because the “One” says it. How much more delay is enough delay for him? And the most sad thing about this is I’d bet money that msot of the people whining the loudest about it are not going to be affexted ONE BIT! The number of households actually getting their TV over the air is miniscule compared to what it was when this transition started.
Just flip the damn switch already. People will either go get a box or sign up for cable. Stop delaying.