From The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's front page:

On that day, analog televisions not connected to a converter box, cable, or satellite will stop working because they will be unable to receive digital signals.


Again I'll state that the move from analog to digital over-the-air broadcasts unfairly impacts the have-nots of US society. If you're rich enough to be shelling out for cable or dish TV, you won't feel the change. If you're rich enough to have purchased a new TV in the last few years, you're likely already enjoying extra over-the-air channels thanks to DTV.

If you're dirt poor, you won't have an inexpensive used TV to buy; you'll have to shell out $20 you could've spent on bread for a converter box, and that's with the government's coupon; once February 2009 rolls around, you'd better be ready to start enjoying radio.

And let me critique the government's DTV converter box program again. The poor and elderly...

1.) Don't know the coupons exist. Fox News reports that,

NTIA spokesman Todd Sedmak said Tuesday about 2.5 million consumers have ordered more 4.8 million coupons so far since Jan. 1 when the program came online.


To think that I was worried 33.5 million coupons wouldn't be enough! Run through a neighborhood with an average income of $24,000 or less and see how many know about the program before you tell me these numbers mean my concern's moot.

2.) Still have to pay $20, based on the prices I've seen online, to get a converter box for their old TV.

3.) Won't necessarily be able to handle the extra barrier to entry between themselves and the TV. What about TVs with those dual screws on the back? Ones without inputs whatsoever?

4.) Will still, no matter what, be forced to pump money into converter boxes or TV manufacturers pockets... or they won't get to watch TV.

Ludicrous.

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