Finally, the Times-News had a lead story on the changes former Adelphia subscribers will see when it switches over to Time Warner. (At least for the time being) I was glad to see that they gave it the prominence it deserved for the affected consumers. Isn’t it time they followed the example of other newspapers, and did a similar story for all Erie consumers regarding the coming digital television age?
But fear not. You’re friendly Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has a website that will answer most of the more obvious questions about the digital transition (DT) (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html). For those stations still wallowing in self denial, the FCC spells out in no uncertain terms what will happen on February 17, 2009:
At that point (February 17, 2009), full-power TV stations will cease
broadcasting on their current analog channels, and the spectrum they
use for analog broadcasting will be reclaimed and put to other
uses.
Now if you really want to get sexy, your consumer friendly Bush administration and the FCC developed an even more detailed DT information site for consumers (http://www.dtv.gov/). For stations and consumers who can’t find a calendar for 2009, they included a countdown counter at the bottom of the home page that clicks down the days, minutes and seconds to the transition. (Guys…I think they are serious.) It also should be pointed out that the law that included the transition was supported enthusiastically by both Republicans and Democrats. (When was the last time you saw that kind of harmony in Washington?)
I am going to add both links to the "Links" list on the side of the page. By the way, both of these links have good background information in case a reporter from the Erie Times-News or other media wants to do a story. Helping the consumer to understand what is going to happen with their local television service; now what an original thought that would be!
3 comments:
Great. One more thing to spend money on (the ned DTV equipment for our cable). And, it probably won't make a difference in our picture quality with our non-HDTV tv set.
Anonymous....check the FCC sites I posted carefully and also some of the other posts here on DTV. It specifically states that if you are on cable or satellite, all your sets so connected will automatically convert the signal from digital to analog.
The only issue would your existing analog receivers that depend on over-the-air for reception. In that situation, the government will give you a $40 (maxium currently two per household) to purchase a digital to analog converter box. Currently prices have not been set, so nobody knows what exactly the difference would be between the voucher and the actual cost.
Gee, I hope once all is said and done that we actually have some programming that's worth watching. I, for one, am not exactly salivating over HDTV versions of America's Got Talent or According To Jim.
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