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FCC Chair Speaks Out Against DTV Transition Delay

Jan 11, 2009, 3:03 PM by Eric M. Zeman

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin voiced his opinion about the suggested delay of the transition to digital television signals. The delay had been suggested due to the belief that consumers aren't prepared for the transition, and that there aren't enough coupons for the necessary converter boxes required for analog televisions to receive the new digital transmissions. Martin believes that something should be done about the coupons rather than delay the transition. He also said that a new transition deadline would likely not be taken seriously, and pointed out that wireless companies, such as Qualcomm, are waiting to use the 700 MHz spectrum that will be freed up by the transition. Any delay could snarl their plans and have negative ramifications on their businesses.

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Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

iMike

Jan 11, 2009, 7:22 PM

Hussien Obama just wants some money for the demos.

Obama and the demos just want to make a little cash off this maybe put a new tax on tvs and cellphones to pay for the poor to get new hdtvs. Like al gores cell phone tax to give the poor Hdtvs. Don't get me wrong McCain thought the whole digital thing had something to do with those new clocks with numbers and no hands.

bluecoyote

Barack Obama is traditionally addressed by his first name.

iMike

Al gores phone tax was to give the poor access to the Internet that Al invented. Sorry iPhone goofed on original post

tuxedosun

Are you stupid? This has nothing to do with Obama...this transition has been in the making for years, so the benefit Obama would make off this being delayed or even if it happened would be slim to NONE!

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ygbhen

I am little confused as to how Obama and the demos can make cash off of this 😳

I wanted to take what you seriously but when you try the same campaign bs to try to link him to Saddam Hussien in Iraq because you cannot intelligently debate the sho...
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michael_herc

Wow. All I can say is wow. What bigotry.

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maokh

Jan 12, 2009, 7:17 PM

DTV transition unprecedented change in communications

The DTV transition is completely unprecedented.

While new modes have been added since the original AM radio (FM, IBOC, DTV), and even new features (AM stereo, FM stereo, color television) ... there really hasn't been a case where a certain mode was rendered completely obsolete and unusable.

TV is quite ubiquitous, and its nowhere near what happened during the AMPS/TDMA sunsets. Even color TV was additive, so you can't really call that a transition.

While most of us savvy folks will visit on the web, call the 800 number advertised, or subscribe (continue to subscribe) to premium service television, there are many folks out there who are afraid of technology and can't even program their VCR clocks, let alone hook up a converter.

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Turbo187

A lot of smaller towns and places that receive analog signal on low power transmitters will not lose their analog signals in Feb.

chainmail311

Jan 13, 2009, 1:41 AM

Obama, if you love your blackberry,

LET THE FREQUENCY GO! So you can get faster data with LTE.

Seriously, however, those people that didn't take NUMEROUS advantages to obtain a discounted converter box will be forced to pay the $60 bucks for one. Tuff stuff. Remember the story of the Grasshopper and the Ants? Ants won, because they thought ahead. Those people that don't have a box still, will just not have over the air television for what......a day? Chances are they'll either buy a new TV, or a converter box. It's not like we didn't warn them!

This is stupid, and if this gets put off, I declare Congress and the Presidency's attack against technology!

Versed

Jan 11, 2009, 3:18 PM

I feel bad, But?

This has been publicized over and over for several years, people did nothing, waited for the last minute to get their rebate or whatever cards, and now complain they need more time, or are unaware.

This spectrum has been spoken for and paid for. I honestly do feel bad for those who waited, but people need to take responsibility for their actions. Delaying is not going to solve anything.

Americanstud1987

Agreed. We need to change but too many dumb asses out there. No TV for you! 😁

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bluecoyote

Given the FCC has bombarded us with ads in every conceivable location for the past 18 months and EVERY electronics retailer has been pretty clear on this, I'm trying to think of who could possibly be in the dark about this. Even my post office has mes...
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miacol

Jan 11, 2009, 7:29 PM

Write to the FCC and Obama

Asking them not to delay the transition. It's been way too long in the waiting, we need to push this. Why are so many people afraid of change?

Jayshmay

I most certainly agree, people have been warned for years, and years, and they have been bombarded with DTV transition advertisements for the past year.

Enough, time to move on. Wireless carriers are waiting for that 700mhz to deploy LTE!

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