Digital TV Converter Box

Am I the only one having a hard time understanding this whole Digital T.V. Converter Box thing? I get the concept, old TV’s are analog and new TV’s are digital. “At midnight, Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting provides a clearer picture and more channels and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.” This is the official story anyway.

What is the big rush? And Why is the government taking such an active interest in the transition? They are spending a whole lot of time, money and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40 that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes. You can purchase these boxes for $40. You can get a really good one that comes with a remote control for $60.

Consumers can apply now for up to two $40 coupons per household by going online at www.DTV2009.gov, calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), or by mailing their application to P.O. Bo 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Coupons will be mailed to eligible households and are good for 90 days from the date they are mailed. The government spent $1.5 BILLION making these coupons available. I don’t think that even covers labor for processing.

Why didn’t the government just subsidize the manufacturer, making the boxes available for free or making the good ones available for under $20? They could of saved a lot of time and money by not having to collect and process applications. Why is it deemed necessary to keep track of, and record every household that does not have cable TV. Why does the government continue to interfere in private industry?

The seeds of the digital transition were sown more than a decade ago. Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which set a deadline of 2006 for the transition. Another act of Congress — the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 — delayed the deadline to next year.

Most corporations operate on at least a ten year plan. Why didn’t they stop making analog TV’s at least ten years ago? Now all of a sudden there is a big rush to stop broadcasting in analog. Television stations currently are broadcasting in both analog and digital. Why can’t they continue to broadcast in both until analog TV’s got phased out naturally overtime? This would have eliminated the need for Digital TV Converter Boxes altogether.

THE WHOLE THING IS VERY SUSPICIOUS AND A BIG WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED, IT BECOMES MORE SUSPICIOUS. BIG BROTHER DOESN’T WANT YOU GOING WITHOUT YOUR FAVORITE MIND CONTROL BOX, EVEN IF YOU WON’T SUCCUMB TO CABLE TV BRAINWASHING, SO DON”T FORGET TO GET YOUR $40 COUPON TODAY!