Washington, D.C. (February 2, 2009) -- The U.S. House this week is expected to vote on a Senate bill that would delay the Digital TV transition from February 17 to June 12. By most accounts, the legislation will pass and will soon be signed into law by President Obama who supports a delay.
And that's a damn good thing.
I predicted more than a year ago that the federal government would delay the nation's switch from analog to digital signals. As a longtime observer of the federal government (including 10 years as a congressional reporter), I have come to the conclusion that our nation's leaders are incapable of doing anything right until the problem blows up in their faces.
Why?
Politicians only care about covering their fat political asses, getting re-elected and blaming others for their mistakes. They couldn't care less about their constituents, the concept of public service or just simply doing a good job. (Trust me, I've seen these animals up close; they are even worse than you think.)
Joe Six Pack: What's a converter box?
So forecasting that the digital transition would be delayed was one of my easiest predictions. I knew that the feds would screw it up -- and they certainly have. Seriously, here we are roughly two weeks away from the transition and:
1. The Converter Waiting List Is Growing and Growing...
Millions of people are now on a federal waiting list for $40 digital converter coupons because the feds ran out of money to issue them. (The coupons can be used to buy converters that can enable old analog TVs to keep working when the signals are switched to digital.)
Why did they run out of money?
At the start, the feds decided to make everyone eligible for the coupons, regardless of their income level. Yes, that's right. Bill Gates is eligible for a $40 coupon. Warren Buffet is eligible. Donald Trump is eligible. Everybody is eligible! No wonder they ran out of money!
The feds should have made the coupons available only to the people who needed them the most -- low income folks who can't afford to plunk down $60 or $70 for a converter box, not to mention buy a new Digital TV.
Plus, the feds should have done a better job of alerting cable and satellite subscribers that they didn't need converter boxes so they wouldn't apply for them. (Cable and satellite providers provide digital boxes as part of their service.) That would have left more coupons available for those who did need them.
2. Millions of People Are Still Baffled
Approximately seven million people say they are not ready for the switch and polls show that the chief reason is that they are confused. They still don't have a clue whether to get a converter box, a new TV or stand on their heads and hope for the best.
And there's no wonder. The government and the CE industry did a horrible job of educating consumers on how to prepare for the switch. Horrible! The slick PR commercials (by cable, local stations, the feds, etc.) looked like they were designed by Silicon Valley tech freaks for Silicon Valley tech freaks.
How was Grandma Moses or Joe Six Pack going to understand what was going on with all those flashy graphics and fast cuts on their screen? Give me a break.
3. The Feds Are Continuing to Confuse People
Okay, it's February 2 and the federal government still hasn't decided on the transition date! You don't think that's not confusing people?
Dear God, what if Congress this week decides not to postpone the transition -- after the president and congressional leaders said they likely would postpone it.
Well, there's little chance that those seven million people will run out and get converter boxes in the next two weeks; based on what they've been hearing, those seven million people probably have already decided that the transition will be delayed.
So, Congress better delay this thing or it will be an even bigger mess than it would have been before they started talking about a delay a few weeks ago.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let me get to the real point of this commentary.
Yes, I predicted the transition would be delayed. I have also pointed out (repeatedly) over the last year how the feds (both Democrats and Republicans) were exhibiting gross incompetence in managing the transition.
Because of those two things, some readers have posted comments in our message board saying that I have always wanted the transition to be delayed. By pointing out the transition's flaws, some people assume that I am against it.
Well, that's nonsense. Like it or not, I realize the Digital TV transition is inevitable. But I don't want to see millions of people suddenly lose their TV signals because of government incompetence. I don't want to see millions of people flooding government offices and local stations with phone calls. And I don't want to see local TV stations suddenly have a dramatic drop-off in ratings.
The Digital TV transition must happen -- but it must be done right. So, yes, approve the damn delay. I wish the delay wasn't necessary, but it is, folks. You don't want to see the mess we would have if the transition goes as scheduled.
But as I say that, I have to ask a final question:
Will our politicians put aside their petty ways and do it right the second time around?
I wish I could say I can predict that one..
Comment on this article!
And that's a damn good thing.
I predicted more than a year ago that the federal government would delay the nation's switch from analog to digital signals. As a longtime observer of the federal government (including 10 years as a congressional reporter), I have come to the conclusion that our nation's leaders are incapable of doing anything right until the problem blows up in their faces.
Why?
Politicians only care about covering their fat political asses, getting re-elected and blaming others for their mistakes. They couldn't care less about their constituents, the concept of public service or just simply doing a good job. (Trust me, I've seen these animals up close; they are even worse than you think.)
Joe Six Pack: What's a converter box?
So forecasting that the digital transition would be delayed was one of my easiest predictions. I knew that the feds would screw it up -- and they certainly have. Seriously, here we are roughly two weeks away from the transition and:
1. The Converter Waiting List Is Growing and Growing...
Millions of people are now on a federal waiting list for $40 digital converter coupons because the feds ran out of money to issue them. (The coupons can be used to buy converters that can enable old analog TVs to keep working when the signals are switched to digital.)
Why did they run out of money?
At the start, the feds decided to make everyone eligible for the coupons, regardless of their income level. Yes, that's right. Bill Gates is eligible for a $40 coupon. Warren Buffet is eligible. Donald Trump is eligible. Everybody is eligible! No wonder they ran out of money!
The feds should have made the coupons available only to the people who needed them the most -- low income folks who can't afford to plunk down $60 or $70 for a converter box, not to mention buy a new Digital TV.
Plus, the feds should have done a better job of alerting cable and satellite subscribers that they didn't need converter boxes so they wouldn't apply for them. (Cable and satellite providers provide digital boxes as part of their service.) That would have left more coupons available for those who did need them.
2. Millions of People Are Still Baffled
Approximately seven million people say they are not ready for the switch and polls show that the chief reason is that they are confused. They still don't have a clue whether to get a converter box, a new TV or stand on their heads and hope for the best.
And there's no wonder. The government and the CE industry did a horrible job of educating consumers on how to prepare for the switch. Horrible! The slick PR commercials (by cable, local stations, the feds, etc.) looked like they were designed by Silicon Valley tech freaks for Silicon Valley tech freaks.
How was Grandma Moses or Joe Six Pack going to understand what was going on with all those flashy graphics and fast cuts on their screen? Give me a break.
3. The Feds Are Continuing to Confuse People
Okay, it's February 2 and the federal government still hasn't decided on the transition date! You don't think that's not confusing people?
Dear God, what if Congress this week decides not to postpone the transition -- after the president and congressional leaders said they likely would postpone it.
Well, there's little chance that those seven million people will run out and get converter boxes in the next two weeks; based on what they've been hearing, those seven million people probably have already decided that the transition will be delayed.
So, Congress better delay this thing or it will be an even bigger mess than it would have been before they started talking about a delay a few weeks ago.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let me get to the real point of this commentary.
Yes, I predicted the transition would be delayed. I have also pointed out (repeatedly) over the last year how the feds (both Democrats and Republicans) were exhibiting gross incompetence in managing the transition.
Because of those two things, some readers have posted comments in our message board saying that I have always wanted the transition to be delayed. By pointing out the transition's flaws, some people assume that I am against it.
Well, that's nonsense. Like it or not, I realize the Digital TV transition is inevitable. But I don't want to see millions of people suddenly lose their TV signals because of government incompetence. I don't want to see millions of people flooding government offices and local stations with phone calls. And I don't want to see local TV stations suddenly have a dramatic drop-off in ratings.
The Digital TV transition must happen -- but it must be done right. So, yes, approve the damn delay. I wish the delay wasn't necessary, but it is, folks. You don't want to see the mess we would have if the transition goes as scheduled.
But as I say that, I have to ask a final question:
Will our politicians put aside their petty ways and do it right the second time around?
I wish I could say I can predict that one..
Comment on this article!
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