Republicans: Feb. 17 DTV Switch Was Relatively Painless
Some Congressman Who Opposed Date-Change Sing Transition Praises
John Eggerton -- Multichannel News, 2/24/2009 2:38:14 PM
A hearing on reauthorizing the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act briefly turned into a shout-out for the relative ease of the DTV transition.
During a hearing in the House Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee, a number of the Republicans who opposed moving the DTV date pointed out how smoothly the transition had gone for the hundreds of stations who went ahead and pulled the plug on analog on the original Feb. 17 date.
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), himself a former broadcaster, said that his office didn't receive any calls on the issue--"and we are in the phone book," he said.
He said that the general managers in his district got "a couple hundred calls" mostly about plugging in boxes or re-scanning for channels. He suggested that, given that relative dearth of outcry, Congress should consider rethinking the $90 million it was planning to spend on DTV outreach, or the $650 million in the economic stimulus package that is going to jump-starting the DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program.
Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois said he thought his office had only received one complaint, and applauded the relative smoothness of the transition.
Adding his voice to the DTV mutual admiration society was Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska, who noted that the two stations out of five in his district that made the switch Feb. 17 received about 550 calls, mostly about set-up and channel scanning. Only 10 came from people who had not converter box or coupons and they were able to get a converter within a day.
House Republicans had overwhelmingly opposed moving the date or setting aside millions for more education or coupons.
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I am neither a liar nor do I live under a rock. I work for a company who is dealing with this.I have a tv and satelite.Maybe you should read what I wrote instead of thinking I'm talking about myself. I talk with elderly people every day who are living on very little.They have no one else to help them and you're here bad mouthing me because I feel like the whole situation should have been done differently.
Katherine - 2/25/2009 10:31:04 PM EST -
I didn't mean they had no television sets-they can't get any stations to watch. Maybe when you get old,you'll know what I'm talking about.Some people live on a lot less than you'd consider poverty.
Katherine - 2/25/2009 10:26:33 PM EST -
Same question, if you don't own a TV why do you care? If you say you can't afford a TV, why do you have a computer with internet access sending your comment? You're either very stupid with no common sense, a very bad liar, or live under a rock. Leave all of us alone...
Robert Martin - 2/25/2009 6:39:08 PM EST -
If you have no TV, why do you care?
eddie willers - 2/25/2009 2:59:50 PM EST -
Everyday I am asked when will I get my coupons?I have no tv.This switch was only painless for the people who were able to use their coupons or those with enough money not to need the coupons!
Katherine Pinkston - 2/25/2009 1:31:03 PM EST
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