Washington, D.C.
(April 19, 2007) -- Concerns that the nation's switch to
Digital TV will leave some Americans without TV signals appears
to be growing in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Virginia) said this week that he has some "broad concerns about how effective this transition will be," according to a report in Multichannel News. The congressman made his remarks in a speech before the annual American Cable Association Summit.
And Reuters reports that FCC Commissioner Michael Copps told attendees at this week's National Association of Broadcasters convention that both the government and the industry need to do more to educate consumers on the transition.
"I am really worried about the entire transition process. We have got to start really taking this seriously," Copps said.
Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Virginia) said this week that he has some "broad concerns about how effective this transition will be," according to a report in Multichannel News. The congressman made his remarks in a speech before the annual American Cable Association Summit.
And Reuters reports that FCC Commissioner Michael Copps told attendees at this week's National Association of Broadcasters convention that both the government and the industry need to do more to educate consumers on the transition.
"I am really worried about the entire transition process. We have got to start really taking this seriously," Copps said.
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On February 17, 2009, all broadcast TV signals must switch from analog to digital. At that time, Americans will not be able to watch TV unless they subscribe to cable or satellite or get a Digital TV or a digital converter box.
Many industry observers say that the 21 million homes that now do not subscribe to cable or satellite are most likely to be left behind when the switch occurs.
The federal government and industry companies plan to launch a campaign to inform consumers what they need to do to keep watching television. In addition, in January, the feds will begin offering $40 coupons for converter boxes, which are expected to cost around $60. (The converter box will convert the digital signals to analog so they can be displayed on older analog sets.)
But despite those efforts, many still think it may not be enough, leaving millions of sets dark on the big day.
Boucher said the $1.5 billion allocated for federal converter coupons is also not enough.
"We are deeply concerned that that amount of money is not sufficient; and that there will be millions of very angry people across the country who will not get a subsidy or, if they do, it will be a small subsidy in comparison to the cost of the digital-to-analog converter box," he said, according to Multichannel News.
Copps also warned of a consumer backlash if a large number of people are suddenly without television on February 17, 2009.
"We have to make sure that we are doing the outreach so that consumers know that the hard date is coming," Copps said.
Although some lawmakers have hinted that the 2009 date might be pushed back, Boucher said that won't happen.
"Be assured, that date is not going to change,” he said.
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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On February 17, 2009, all broadcast TV signals must switch from analog to digital. At that time, Americans will not be able to watch TV unless they subscribe to cable or satellite or get a Digital TV or a digital converter box.
Many industry observers say that the 21 million homes that now do not subscribe to cable or satellite are most likely to be left behind when the switch occurs.
The federal government and industry companies plan to launch a campaign to inform consumers what they need to do to keep watching television. In addition, in January, the feds will begin offering $40 coupons for converter boxes, which are expected to cost around $60. (The converter box will convert the digital signals to analog so they can be displayed on older analog sets.)
But despite those efforts, many still think it may not be enough, leaving millions of sets dark on the big day.
Boucher said the $1.5 billion allocated for federal converter coupons is also not enough.
"We are deeply concerned that that amount of money is not sufficient; and that there will be millions of very angry people across the country who will not get a subsidy or, if they do, it will be a small subsidy in comparison to the cost of the digital-to-analog converter box," he said, according to Multichannel News.
Copps also warned of a consumer backlash if a large number of people are suddenly without television on February 17, 2009.
"We have to make sure that we are doing the outreach so that consumers know that the hard date is coming," Copps said.
Although some lawmakers have hinted that the 2009 date might be pushed back, Boucher said that won't happen.
"Be assured, that date is not going to change,” he said.
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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Phillip Swann is
president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in
dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox
News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The
Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click TVPredictions.com to read more news and features on TV
technology.