News and Reviews....
The End of Analog TV- Part 6 ....... January 2007
By Robert Lieto
With the bringing in of the 110th Congress marks a change of power. The Democrats have won control of both the House and the Senate and along with that control, the issues of the Digital transition of DTV become an issue of controversy. It seems that the new Congress has realized that the transition has some issues. In a letter from the chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Rep. John Dingell (D-Michigan), his reservations on the date and the coupon program surfaced. While his demands are unlikely, by himself to alter the February 2009 date, his views could reshape the DTV transition process. In his view " We continue to believe this plan is highly flawed and disadvantageous to the poor, the elderly, minority groups and those with multiple analog sets in their homes." Most important, the reps opposed the plan to restrict the converter box subsidy program solely to homes that do not subscribe to cable TV or satellite service. They said that limiting eligibility to analog-broadcast-only households was unfair to consumers "who have purchased analog televisions, which can typically last for 15 years or more., and "It is bad enough that consumers will have to apply for coupons and hope they receive their coupons before the money runs out".
The House Democrats also urged that the coupon program should not be limited to the most basic converter boxes. Citing advise from TV and electronics industry executives, they recommended that the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) program should cover all models of converters that give consumers the ability to continue to receive free over-the-air TV content "without degradation in picture and sound quality. They also urged the NTIA to include converters that are able to be software upgradeable for update, TV ratings information, Closed Captioning and other technology that will accompany the DTV migration.
Dingell and his colleagues also called the "statutory $5 million cap...woefully inadequate for such a broad and fundamental change. They also urged the NTIA to work closely with other agencies and entities to make the public aware of the digital TV transition. The final section of Dindell's missive contains only hint that the February 2009 analog TV cutoff date may be in jeopardy.
The NTIA offered no response to the Congressional missive, acknowledging only that it is processing all the input it has received. For more information you may visit the NTIA web site for the phone and names of those in charge at "www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/phones.htm"
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 Wednesday February 18, 2009 requiring that the airwaves be returned to the government. Almost before the ink dried on President Bush's signature authorizing the transition, doubts surfaced about the nation's ability to shut off by the designated date.. Also the critical decisions on the MUST CARRY for cable and satellite and the distribution of subsidized converter boxes are still very much in flux. Capitol watchers believe the final decision will occur more near the Election Day 2008.
Comment ..... 2007 will be a critical year as the effort goes on to inform the public, set the must carry rules and budget the Converter box give a way. Many issues must be resolved prior to Feb 18, 2009. We will just have to wait and see how they play out.
For Past Articles on the Subject
End of Analog TV - Part 5 May. 2006
End of Analog TV - Part 4 Nov. 2005
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
