[arboristman]

c/p

It's almost official: Starting Feb. 18, 2009, millions of televisions in American households will go black unless they're outfitted to receive all-digital broadcasts.

The deadline became final on Wednesday as part of a broader spending bill that the U.S. Senate approved by an ultra-thin margin. Stuck in a deadlock over proposals involving Medicaid and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the legislation earned approval only after Vice President **** Cheney flew back from a Middle East trip to push the 50-50 vote over the edge.

The 2009 deadline will not affect the vast majority of Americans who already subscribe to cable or satellite TV. But households relying on an antenna to receive "over-the-air" analog broadcasts must acquire a digital tuner to continue receiving TV shows.

The Senate's action effectively ends months of debate and solidifies a compromise politicians made this weekend with the U.S. House of Representatives. Earlier versions of the Senate bill had called for an April 7, 2009 deadline, while the House had pushed for Dec. 31, 2008, as the cutoff date.

By the time of the 2009 switch, the government will have auctioned the remaining spectrum to companies interested in deploying wireless technologies. The proceeds are estimated at about $10 billion by the Congressional Budget Office. The auction is supposed to begin no later than Jan. 7, 2008.

Wednesday's vote won immediate praise from the technology industry, which sees the imminent auction as a breeding ground for business opportunities.

"It's just about the best Christmas present that I can think of coming to the tech sector from the public policy process," said Janice Obuchowski, executive director of the High Tech DTV Coalition, a group of 19 trade associations and technology companies including AT&T, Dell, Cisco Systems, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Texas Instruments. "It's really great spectrum, and it's going to yield some great applications."

Analog TV signals use the 700MHz frequency band, meaning that by nature, they travel farther than those on bands used by the wireless and electronics industries today. Reusing that spectrum could mean easier and cheaper deployment of broadband networks--and translate to more affordable, widespread high-speed Internet access for consumers.
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The compromise also settled differences over the amount of money to be set aside for a set-top box subsidy program for those still relying on over-the-air analog broadcasts.

Before Wednesday's action, a 1997 law stipulated that analog television would have be cut off on Dec. 31, 2006, or when 85 percent of households are capable of receiving digital signals, whichever arrived sooner. A slice of that spectrum would be handed over to police, fire, ambulance and other public safety responders who rely on the analog spectrum to communicate.

But eight years later, with the transition nowhere near that percentage mark and the 9/11 Commission warning of the perils of inadequate spectrum, politicians and interest groups stepped up the pressure to set a hard deadline. Reports of bungled communications during Hurricane Katrina upped the urgency.

The final bill also earmarks $1 billion for upgrading emergency communications equipment.

President Bush must sign the package into law before it takes effect. Because the House of Representatives also must approve it--which is expected to be just a formality--it was unclear Wednesday when it would reach the White House.

Upgrading the rabbit ears
American households have until the February 2009 deadline to ensure that their televisions are capable of receiving digital broadcasts.

According to congressional estimates, less than 15 percent of households rely exclusively on over-the-air broadcasts. According to estimates by the Federal Communications Commission, that number will drop to 7 percent by 2009.

But advocacy group Consumers Union said that will still leave an unconscionable number of individual sets--many of them operated by elderly and low-income viewers--ill-equipped to meet the changes.

Households that already rely solely on cable or satellite broadcasting should not have to make any changes. Satellite services, such as DirecTV, are already capable of converting signals, and most cable companies intend a seamless transition, such as re-engineering their signals at the source, so that no extra home hardware is necessary.
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Many are already conscious of the switch. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, TV manufacturers offer more than 600 models of digital TV products, including integrated sets, digital monitors and set-top receivers. Since they began releasing the devices in 1998, they have sold more than 13 million products.

FCC rules require all television sets and other TV receivers on the market to contain digital tuners by March 1, 2007.

In short, only those who continue to rely solely on over-the-air broadcast stations should have to make adjustments. Short of buying a new digital-ready television, they can opt for a digital-to-analog converter box, which manufacturers estimate will cost about $50 by 2009.

The approved Senate package would dispense up to $1.5 billion in government subsidies to households, which may request up to two $40 vouchers to use toward purchasing set-top boxes.

But Consumers Union argued those funds are sorely inadequate to meet those needs and would still leave $2 billion in overall out-of-pocket costs for consumers.

Jeannine Kenney, a senior policy analyst for the organization, also criticized the bill for setting aside only $5 million for consumer education. "Consumers will have no idea what's coming and what they need to do to prepare for it, making it likely that tens of millions of television sets will go black on Feb. 17, 2009," she said.

[arboristman]

i know,many will will ask.what does this mean for us with fta receivers?

simply put: nothing.why? because fta receivers we are using are already digital.
our fta receivers will continue to work as always.

[lonster]

Interesting read arbor.... I knew it was coming but didnt know when... Thanks

[Tbass]

Thanks for pointing out the thread for me arboristman, But I'm still a little confused. Forgive me if I'm a little ingnorant on this subject. Maybe if I can explain a situation,and someone can clear this up better for me. Let's say I live in a rual town outside of chicago. As of now I can pick up local sations on rabbit ears when things are down. After Feb. 2009 will I be able to maybe point a small dish at chicago, and possibly be able to pick up these sations with my fta unit then? Are the fta receivers basicly the same thing as those $50 converter boxes the artical was talking about?

[Sunkist]

Thanks for pointing this out for me!

[bel71281]

here is a coupon that will come in handy when this takes place.

http://www.abadss.com/forum/99-gener...hlight=coupons

[antennaguy]

There are many converter boxes on the market, with more coming. As with any new technology, their quality, efficiency and price vary considerably. So the selection of a converter box will be an important variable to desired digital reception.
But an even larger variable is the choice of the right digital antenna.
Most TV consumers think of antennas as low-tech devices, but there is more behind some of the newer antenna designs than just bent metal and plastic. Many of the TV antenna designs on the market today, such as the Yagi and rabbit ears have technology roots going back 30 to 50 years or more.
The switch to digital broadcasts however is bringing consumers back to Off-Air reception and the increasing sales are providing the motivation and investments necessary to develop new models and new technology. The fact that most designs on the market now were developed prior to the advent of much of the computer technology, software and algorithms in common use today, left open numerous avenues to improve upon tried and true designs and develop new ones. Additionally, recent regulations and standards are opening new doors for antenna engineers to develop smaller antennas with improved performance and aesthetics.
The correct antenna, installed and aimed properly (considering obstructions) will receive desired local stations it’s aimed at up to 70 miles or more, including multi-cast programming and several in HD, almost completely uncompressed, not necessarily available from cable or satellite. Some viewers may even be able to receive some or all of available out-of-town channels, carrying blacked out sports programs or network broadcasts not available in home towns.
As an added benefit, an OTA antenna provides reception for second sets in homes not wired for whole-house signal distribution.
While cable and satellite program providers will continue to serve the great majority of homes as the primary signal source, missing HD local reception, compression issues, higher costs, billing add-ons, service outages, contact difficulties, in-home service waits and no shows have left many of these subscribers looking to OTA antennas as alternatives and backup.
Depending on the level of desire to receive an excellent digital picture and multiple broadcast signals, considering the investment in TV entertainment already made by many viewers, they should consider up-grading to a new Digital Off-Air Antennas.

[Itaintrite]

It seems like they want to (and will) push it back to June 2009 :/

[just4ufolks]

As in the preceeding post -with millions behind in the sheduled launch of the ALL DIGITAL format their has been active lobbying at all levels of corporate and political scene to push the DATE and DELAY implementing the process..so stay tuned folks and yes there is an INCENTIVE for those ready to get on the digital band wagon...$$$$ coupon as in the previous post..so cash in and enjoy the show...
Again as "Arb" said if you are totally geared to the FTA hobby SIT BACK and enjoy the show.....

[just4ufolks]

Originally Posted by just4ufolks

As in the preceeding post -with millions behind in the sheduled launch of the ALL DIGITAL format their has been active lobbying at all levels of corporate and political scene to push the DATE and DELAY implementing the process..so stay tuned folks and yes there is an INCENTIVE for those ready to get on the digital band wagon...$$$$ coupon as in the previous post..so cash in and enjoy the show...
Again as "Arb" said if you are totally geared to the FTA hobby SIT BACK and enjoy the show.....

OK
folks as indicted in my post yerterday
it's official
NOW
here is the breaking news from ABC News

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

Senate Approves Four-Month Hold on Digital TV Conversion

[7:10 PM EST]

For more, go to abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396


enjoy the show

c/p

[Itaintrite]

Another twist! House has voted against the delay! Transition to digital will happen on Feb 17th as planned! In my opinion this is definitely a good thing. We need to push forward.

[arboristman]

lol yeah.crazy.

ok that's what i had thought,the 17th.some reason this article i grabbed at the time has it as the 18th.
ok,i'l adjust the title to 17th.

heard on the news,they where saying there are quite a few million who not ready yet.
better hurry up people.or you will have nothing past the 17th.

(again,sat tv is not effected)

[fossil112]

Originally Posted by arboristman

Analog TV signals use the 700MHz frequency band, meaning that by nature, they travel farther than those on bands used by the wireless and electronics industries today. Reusing that spectrum could mean easier and cheaper deployment of broadband networks--and translate to more affordable, widespread high-speed Internet access for consumers.

this sets the tone for Pres. Obama's plan to offer nationwide broadband internet access. this free bandwidth just set the pace

[just4ufolks]

Originally Posted by Itaintrite

Another twist! House has voted against the delay! Transition to digital will happen on Feb 17th as planned! In my opinion this is definitely a good thing. We need to push forward.

Originally Posted by arboristman

lol yeah.crazy.

ok that's what i had thought,the 17th.some reason this article i grabbed at the time has it as the 18th.
ok,i'l adjust the title to 17th.

heard on the news,they where saying there are quite a few million who not ready yet.
better hurry up people.or you will have nothing past the 17th.

(again,sat tv is not effected)

Yes what a diffrence it makes in 24 hrs...?
Change delayed to Change stand to o ahead??

Well here we are and folks better hurry up for the process..

http://www.abadss.com/forum/99-general-chit-chat/92336-
breaking-news-digital-tv-changes.html

thx guyz for keeping us all updated..ABA rocks..

[tb1971]

Obama extended it out another 3 months for those who havent got a digital converter box, so the 17th of February isnt the deadline.