stategrad100
All American
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| Quote : | "Campaign tries to clear digital TV confusion
Gannett News Service
NEW YORK — Amid reports of massive consumer confusion, government and television industry officials this week kick off a series of campaigns to prepare the public for one of the boldest technology conversions ever attempted: the federally mandated transition on Feb. 17, 2009, from analog broadcast TV to digital.
The requirement for about 2,000 stations to stop broadcasting analog signals and just offer digital puts at risk an estimated 117 million analog TV sets that use antennas instead of cable or satellite dishes.
And it poses special problems for about 14 million households that depend exclusively on analog signals. “About 42 percent of those who’ll have no TV signal after the transition have no plans to do anything about it,” says Consumers Union Senior Counsel Chris Murray, citing a December survey by Consumer Reports.
That survey also found that 36 percent of all consumers don’t know about the digital TV conversion. Most of the people who are aware misunderstand what it’s about or how it will affect them.
The Commerce Department hopes to change that with promotions for a program taking effect Tuesday to help consumers buy boxes that convert over-the-air digital transmissions into analog signals.
The department’s National Telecommunications and Infor-mation Administration will mail out coupons that can be used to buy the boxes at retailers including Wal-Mart, Best Buy and RadioShack.
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I want the coupon from Wal-Mart so I can buy the converter and then scalp it on e-bay to further pad my rebate check.
I can't think of a more prudent move for a country facing a recession than alienating the poorest people from what little news/entertainment they have. [/sarcasm] 2/18/2008 10:45:10 AM
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