Can The FCC Actually Manage The Switch To Digital TV?
from the one-would-hope dept
The debate over the shift from analog over-the-air TV to digital over-the-air TV has gone on for ages, but it's finally (fingers crossed) going to happen in 2009. This is important because it will free up a ton of useful spectrum that could be put to much better use. Even if it ends up costing billions, the overall benefit will certainly outweigh the cost of subsidized TV converters. Remember, that the transition really only impacts those who use over-the-air TV signals -- meaning those of you with cable or satellite or IPTV are basically unaffected by this move. Still, there are likely to be problems. The Government Accountability Office, one of the few government agencies who you can actually trust to be pretty honest in its assessment of things, is now warning that the FCC isn't prepared for the switch, noting that it doesn't seem to have much of a plan to educate people about the switch. The FCC claims that isn't the case at all (its response was apparently longer than the initial GAO report itself). And, perhaps the timing is a coincidence (somehow I doubt it), but right after the news of the GAO report came out, so did press reports about major retailers starting to stock up on converters. So, perhaps there is a plan after all...
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: converters, digital tv, fcc, gao
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Ah, the "switch"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Easy to Promote
In the end, those who have TV's that don't work will find out too.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I've seen em
There wasn't any information in the commercials about how to get converter boxes though. I assume there's another phase of commercials coming once they are in the stores.
I'm sure the stores will gladly send us each about fifty circulars over the next year trying to convince us to use our 'coupons' at their individual stores too.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The fact that if you buy a cheap set top box, you will be able to get more channels for free is a big draw for people really...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Digital
Later today I'll be nipping over to Maplin (UK equivalent of Radio Shack) to buy a £50 ($100) "barebones" digital PVR for a friend's Christmas present. That, plus any old ATA hard drive, will give them TiVo-like functionality and ad-skipping, with no subscriptions.
Oh, wait, you Americans have "special interest groups" dedicated to preventing people from enjoying television, don't you? Forget I mentioned it. :-D
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Suck it you moron
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Lol #8 / #7
That would be the only reason for your outburst.
Doesn't matter if we have or have not had it for years.
There are groups that have been trying to prevent the progression of TV for just as long.
Check out all the groups who have always been fighting the Sling Box. Just for one example.
Peet really is right.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Lol #8 / #7
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
For your enjoyment, courtesy of the BEEB
Cost billions? - consumers maybe, but those billions are going into someone's coffers...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
DTV is not the same as HDTV
Starting Feb 19 of 2009, people still using rabbit ears or other antennas to receive their NON-HDTV signal will notice that they can no longer pick up the stations they're used to because they'll no longer be broadcasting a signal that their TV can receive and decode - they will need to obtain a digital -> analog converter box.
The FCC is setting up a system where Americans will be able to obtain one free converter box per home.
This only applies to people who receive their non-HDTV signal over the air! If you have cable, whether it's analog or digital, or a satellite dish, this will not affect you - yet.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Digital TV and HDTV are two different things. A regular TV will still pick up a HD feed, it just won't be in HD.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
OTA Digital Signal
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
what's in a converter box?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]