For anyone to call this bipartisan legislation, is an outright lie. It was pure politics, plain and simple. There was no "bi-partisanship." The original law delaying the February 17, 2009, DTV switch date specifically specified that in order to change the date, a 2/3 vote was needed. Because the Democrats could not get even all of their own to vote for the delay, much less Republicans, they decided to amend the bill so that only a majority vote was needed. If you have the votes to pass it, fine. Just don't go around lying about how it was some kind of "bi-partisan" effort.

can some1 please clarify the importance of them doing this? I mean I don't understand, are they trying to free up some estate, clear air frequencies, what? After all these years about hearing the move to digital, I still don't understand the benefit of this...

The major (if not only) reason for the change is that DTV uses considerably less bandwidth than analog TV. Delaying it won't fix anything, imo. The people that didn't get the memo after the FCC mandated that new TVs must have digital tuners TWO YEARS AGO and there have been a dearth of advertisements since almost deserve to get their tubes darkened. Lets remember that the ORIGINAL date was in 2008, then it got bumped to 2009, now mid-2009. Now before people get bent about turning of people's tellies, let's remember that, first and foremost, the people affected are the ones who are getting their media for FREE, and we as taxpayers are shelling out money (in the form of rebates for the converter boxes) so that they can continue to get it for FREE. Since when was TV a right? How about that money goes to buy people FOOD and SHELTER and not powering their idiot boxes?

Man, these coupons just make converter boxes more expensive. If I know the government's going to pay $40 for a converter box, why should I price mine any less than $40? I bet they low-end models could have started at $20, $30.

Absolutely pathetic. I have seen commercials for over a year telling all these procrastinating morons to go get a converter box. Because all of these people FORGOT or didn't care to GET A FREE ONE we are going to extend the deadline and make sure to buy one FOR THEM.

U.S.S.A.

Anything for me. me me me.

People had over a year to prepare. I don't sympathize with the few dozen people who would actually be affected by this.

I'm not in any particular hurry to see the analog channels disappear, but I am really frustrated to see how much money is going to be wasted in this delay, sacrificed on the altar of politics and ignorance. I have zero confidence in at least 264 of these bozos and their ability to comprehend the value of money, time, or any of the actual information surrounding the DTV transition. Seriously, I wouldn't hire any of 'em to work in a Wendy's.

The only good part of this delay is that more converter boxes can be produced. I manage an electronics department for a retailer and we've been out of them for about 3 weeks now, and the models we carry are currently back ordered with the manufacturers. And from what I'm hearing from the consumers, they can't find them anywhere with any of the retailers.

The next step is to pass the analog bill that changes over all the televisions back to analog broadcasting. This way we can sell more non digital televisions to boost our economy. We can also take back television manufacturing/design from Asia.

Bandwidth of Analog TV channel: 6 MHz

Bandwidth of Digital TV channel: 6 MHz

Looks the same to me.....

They can broadcast more channels on the same signal. For example our PBS channel has 5 different channels, NBC station has 2, so on and so on.

Not the point. It may have different capabilities, but a Digital TV broadcast station occupies the same bandwidth as an Analog one.

I like obama but i am against his reasoning on this. Switch to digital already. The original voucher funds ran out. Now he wants to add more tax dollars to pay for more of these subsidized vouchers.

There are a large percentage that probably dont even need a box since the already have cable. My neighbor thought that every TV needed a converterbox reguardless that she was already hooked up to cable TV. So the government is probably paying for a box that the person doesnt not even need, what a waste of tax dollars. I say make the switch except the PBS channel. Those who truly need the box will realize this yet still have access to "emergency broadcast" that these politicians are so worried about. Those that already have cable or digital capable TV wont notice.

Here in Utah, they are going with the conversion anyway. The only thing not affected is the PBS stations.

This is an example of government politics and waste. Obama said things would change and so far it looks like the same old politics to me. Everyone had 3 years to work on this, just yesterday our local NBC channel had a long commercial explaining you have 2 weeks left and here's what you need to do if you have not done so already.
Now everyone that was prepared can just wait for 4 months while all the procrastinators catch up.

The argument that the poor can't afford a converter box is bunk.
A) Even poor people have cable.
B) If there ever was a time that they could afford it, it's now, not June. Why? EIC, tax refunds..... they'll have blown their refund by June. Don't argue, it'll be gone by April.

Force the issue, and do it now. Giving procrastinators more time is hardly the answer.

BTW I even have a digital converter for my computer. $30, and it works great. Makes for a nice DVR. I'm recording all my fav shows in 720p.
Why go digital? Because analog sucks.

this really ticks me off...i am so sick of these advertisements, and like other people have said if they havent bought a box by now, well thats too bad....i live in the middle of know where and everyone out here is already to go....stupid govt and their policys of just tossing money at problems..

How man years ago was this suppose to happen, and now they are pushing it back AGAIN. TV is not a right, and if yours shut off in Feb, and it was that important, you would have it back and running the next day, if not you would find something else to do.

yep just means people don't have to be inconvenienced in getting the box now and can start again asking for it on June 11. good old lazy USA

Its still not 'offical', Obama has to sign it.

Second false alarm. W2G Toms!!

Congrats America! You just got suckered into spending more of your hard earned money on people who were too lazy to do it themselves. The biggest proponent of this type of behavior? The party currently in charge of the House, Senate, and Presidency. Feeling hopey-changey yet? Oh well, at least they appear "compassionate", which I guess voters decided is more important than having good logic.

This is ridiculous! I can't believe this bs! Bipartisan my arse! I really hope most stations go along with the original plan.

Forget the damn Conversion box, just go get your lazy asses a new tv! Their cheap now, get a 2nd job make the switch. Ive had HDTV since 2004, I mean come on people. If you still have a crappy analog tv and use rabbit ears to watch tv, you need to be taken out back and whipped!

You know this from personal experience? Let see, if we can find one case that is the opposite then A is invalidated. Hmmm... how about where I used to be? Yup, I used to be one of these poor you thought could afford cable. BS.

Second, believe it or not there are poor people who know how to budget. Not all will have "blown" their refunds the minute they get them. Some of the poor you are so critical of actually take the the refund and apply it over the long term, planning to make it last to cover their bills.


I am a believer in the government distribution of these converter boxes. However, I also agree with all those critical opinions of how it was handled. Everyone doesn't need to get one - there should have been some requirements such as income level, or perhaps a initial distribution system through the welfare and medicare/medicaide system. It was a good idea to make sure people would be able to still get their public television, news, and weather alerts, just poorly executed.

Of course, I know almost all Tom's users are rather well-to-do (your posting on the internet, right? that suggests you have access to a computer... and are most likely a gamer, so you have a decent level of disposable income compared to these poor you spit on), so many of you fall into the "it doesn't benefit me, so its wasteful pork". What's pork to someone who has the money being spent on them? Bacon... and people love bringing home the bacon. Nice to know Americans are still hold their fear of communism, believe in self-serving greed, and lack any compassion.

First, let me say I don't agree with the delay.. just get it over with already and stop wasting our money.

But...

It's hasn't even been a month.. who has ever been able to change the government in a month?

Let's not blame the guy for not changing the face of politics with the snap of his fingers. Yes, he says he supports the delay, but just because he's president doesn't mean he gets to play the rogue. He has to have support from within, to ever get his ideas to come to realization.

He may be a big phony, he might turn out to be terrible.. but can we at least give him more than a few weeks before we blame everything on him or say he isn't living up to expectations?

Has anyone here tried to get a coupon in the last 2-3 months? They were delayed and now you have to go on a waiting list.

Who is hurt if they continue transmitting both Analog and Digital. What are they going to do with all of this bandwidth that is so important anyways - that can't already be done today already?

I think the economy is also a good reason for the delay. Maybe someone that was thinking they would be buying a Digital capable TV has lost their job recently?

Also, I DO think a lot of people are totally confused about the whole deal (non-techies). It seems the cable companies are using this DTV conversion as a gimick to get their subscribers to upgrade to "Digital cable" which costs more. In the process they are removing channels form the old analog service.

I have no problem with the delay. Not sure if I support adding additional funds to the coupon program, but that is another matter.

Don't do it obama, don't sign this useless bill. Priorities, this is not important enough to delay any more.

What is funny is that, since they clearly don't pay attention to what is going on around them, many of the people who this bill is intending to 'save' will never hear anything about it.

Considering they just now realized they needed a box or just now took action to get it. When their TV does not turn off on the 17th they'll just think they didn't need it after all. So when June 12 hits...they will still be at square one.

You can't fix stupid.

They don't want the TV's to turn off because some people might start thinking for themselves.

Hmm, hearing that some places are sold out of backordered on those boxes I should buy some and sell them on Ebay hehe. Here where I'm in Wyoming they are selling them in Wal-mart and stuff like that but you can't pick anything up over the air so there are tons of converter boxes. Everyone here is using cable or satellite, its been like that for 30 years at least.

I don't get what the fuss is all about, I mean it has been known for the last 2 YEARS that this was going to happen, if people didn't get their box and converter by the first set date screw them. 2nd even though the government has issued the millions of coupons less than half of them have actually been redeemed.