[opendtv] Re: Lawmakers Establish 2009 Deadline for Analog TV Phaseout
- From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 20:54:53 -0500
I just don't believe it.
- Tom
Cliff Benham wrote:
> I'll believe it when all I see is snow.
>=20
>=20
> Mark Aitken wrote:
>=20
>=20
>>So..do we now rewind the clock and start the stop watch again?
>>******************************************************
>>
>>
>>
>>*Lawmakers Establish 2009 Deadline for Analog TV Phaseout*
>>
>>By Arshad Mohammed
>>Washington Post Staff Writer
>>Tuesday, December 20, 2005; D05
>>
>>They've finally set a date -- Feb. 17, 2009.
>>
>>That's the last day the over-the-air analog signals that have brought=20
>>television programs into Americans' homes for decades will be broadcast=
,=20
>>leaving only digital signals, under an agreement reached by House and=20
>>Senate negotiators over the weekend.
>>
>>That means that millions of people will either have to buy new digital =
>>TV sets or get their hands on a set-top converter box that allows the=20
>>digital channels to be viewed over an old analog television. In=20
>>addition, the negotiators agreed to spend up to $1.5 billion in federal=
=20
>>funds to subsidize the set-top boxes for consumers.
>>
>>Under the legislation, which was passed by the House yesterday and is=20
>>expected to be approved by the Senate this week, consumers will be able=
=20
>>to get up to two $40 coupons per household to help defray the cost of=20
>>the set-top boxes.
>>
>>The bill chiefly affects people who watch TV on sets that pick up analo=
g=20
>>signals through their antennas. Cable companies are expected to win=20
>>permission from Congress to convert digital signals so they can be=20
>>viewed over an analog set. Satellite TV customers already receive=20
>>digital signals.
>>
>>The legislation will allow the government to take back the radio=20
>>spectrum used for analog TV broadcasts. The government then plans to=20
>>auction some of the spectrum to bring in an estimated $10 billion over =
>>five years -- $7.4 billion of which would go toward reducing the budget=
=20
>>deficit.
>>
>>It also sets aside spectrum to help police, firefighters and other firs=
t=20
>>responders to communicate during emergencies.
>>
>>The legislation has been debated by lawmakers for months, with the most=
=20
>>contentious issues being the cutoff date -- which could put politicians=
=20
>>in the uncomfortable position of turning off voters' TV sets -- and the=
=20
>>amount of the set-top box subsidy.
>>
>>Some legislators argued that federal funds should not subsidize private=
=20
>>television viewing. But majorities in both houses of Congress concluded=
=20
>>that some money should be set aside to help.
>>
>>=A9 2005 The Washington Post Company
>>
>>
>>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/19/AR20051=
21901526_pf.html
>>
>>=20
>>
>=20
>=20
> =20
> =20
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
>=20
> - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at =
FreeLists.org=20
>=20
> - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word =
unsubscribe in the subject line.
>=20
>=20
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts:
