News and Reviews....

The End of Analog TV- Part 4 ....... November  2005 

(Updated March 21, 2006 - ** See Below)

By Robert Lieto

    This is an update on the issue of the shut-off date for analog TV as we know it. Under current law, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, set the complete switch from analog to digital to occur on April 7, 2009 requiring that the airwaves be returned to the government. In turn the government would sell off some of the wireless spectrum for $10 billion or more, while the remainder would be used for emergency responders. The legislation, which has been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee, still has to clear the full Senate, and be merged with the bill in the House, and signed into law before it would take effect. In order for the existing analog (non-digital) television sets to work, a converter box that costs about $50 would be required. The Senate panel also approved subsidies of up to $3 billion to help low-income households in their purchase.

Following these actions, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) president and CEO Gary Shapiro responded to the actions of the Senate and the House Energy and Commerce Committiee's "Committee Print" of the "Digital Television Act of 2005" in setting a hard date for the end of analog television broadcasting. Mr. Shapiro noted that "The House Energy and Commerce Committee has taken a critical step toward completing our nation's transition to digital television (DTV).

    Custom Audio-Video Systems, as always, monitors all products that bridge the gap for our customers who do not have digital equipped or digital ready displays. As time draws near, I expect we will have highlighted products with reviews. We will also be sending out reminders to our client base to either upgrade or patch in the necessary equipment.

Comment .....   More to come on this interesting and expected change. 

**(Update March 21, 2006... The cut-off date was signed into law by George W. Bush in early February 2006 and moves the cut-off date closer to February 17, 2009.)

For Past Articles on the Subject

End of Analog TV - Part 3   July 2005

End of Analog TV - Part 2   May 2005

End of Analog TV    January 2005

Plug & Play  April 2003

The H in HDTV   July 2002

HDTV.....As I See It   October 2001