U.S. Senate Worries Public Remains Unaware of DTV Transition

If you have a TV that does not play digital signals, get ready for some real bad news. According to an Associated Press report, after Feb. 18, 2009 if your TV does not catch digital signals, then it will become nothing more than a useless piece of furniture! The U.S. government is spending $5 million to let owners know so they can do something about it. But many critics say this sum is not enough.

It has been said the government is relying heavily on the broadcast industry to spread the word about the changeover. It’s also committed to provide $1.5 billion for viewers to spend on converter boxes that will translate digital signals for older televisions. According to John Kneuer, chief of the federal agency, which is tasked with ensuring a smooth digital transition, told the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday that the government will be relying heavily on broadcast industry. Kneuer, who is the assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce and chief of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said that it’s not only the responsibility of the broadcasting industry, but it was also in their good interest.

But the American population is largely unaware of this phenomenon. A poll released in January by the Association for Public Television Stations indicated 61% of respondents had "no idea" the digital transition was going to take place. A 2005 report by the Government Accountability Office said 21 million households rely on an antenna rather than cable or satellite to receive television signals. This amounts to roughly 19% of the nation.

The digital signals not only provide better signals and superior quality for the viewers, it also frees up lot of air space, allowing the government to make some hefty profit in this segment. For example, when the digital changeover happens, that will free some prime space in the electromagnetic spectrum that will be auctioned early next year for other uses.

But many senators think that the change may catch the elderly and the poor off guard and leave them in the dark when the chane happens. According to Nelda Barnett, a member of the board of the directors of the 39-million-member AARP, these consumers will be confused, frustrated and angry that this important information and entertainment source in their home is no longer operational, through no fault of their own.

But the government is leaving the elderly and poor entirely in the dark either. It is coming up with a coupon program whereby the government will be making available to each household two coupons worth $40 each that can be used to buy two converter boxes. It has already set aside $1.5 billion to pay for the coupon program.

Initially, the government will spend $990 million will be used to pay for the coupons. The administrative costs will come to are capped at $110 million. An additional $510 million may be allocated for households that have only over-the-air television.

The changes have already begun in some key areas. The transition has already begun in some key areas. Cathy Seidel, chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission, said that as of March 1 all television receivers shipped in the U.S. were required to have digital tuners.

Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

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