A Delay Whose Time Has Come

(RE: “Obama: Delay DTV Transition,” Multichannel.com, Jan. 8): This makes sense. For many of the poor and elderly, their TV is their only connection with the outside world, and only source of entertainment and information. Stripping them of their TV access, when they are unable to upgrade, is essentially uncaring. If the government mandates a cutoff, then does not have the planning and wherewithall to fulfill their promised coupon program, then they have an obligation to extend the cutoff date. A wise move, and very American.

Jim Everett, Consultant/Web producer Los Angeles

No Reason To Hold Off

No matter when the transition takes place, there will be some people who are not ready. Why cause more confusion by putting it off? The TV stations have gone overboard to let people know when analog broadcasting ends. Wilmington, N.C., has already switched and the world didn’t end. Hawaii is going digital on Jan. 15, so let the rest of the country switch on Feb. 17.

Lloyd Pritchett, Ellijay, Ga.

Channel Surfers May Need a Map

With all the info on the change to DTV transmission, nothing has been said about the fact that most TV stations will be changing channels also.… What is being done to cope with this? Will cable systems reshuffle channels to agree with the new numbers? Have stations begun to change their IDs, logos, mobile numbers, paperwork, advertising, schedules in newspapers, on crawling channel guides? The viewers need to know!

Aaron Allen, Lafayette, Ind.

Too Late to Turn Back

This date was set in stone three years ago. It’s too close now to delay it. There will always be people unprepared even if they put if off until 2012. It can’t be stopped now. It will totally confuse everyone and no one will take the new date seriously.

Richard Recco, New York