[RP TownTalk] Government "saves" us again!

[Lou King]

Congress in its wisdom have voted to delay the transition from analog to 
digital TV because 1) the government bungled the coupon program, 2) ~6.5 
million of the 14 million households that depend on analog TV are not 
ready for the switch over.

Paraphrasing the acting FCC chairman, 'There's no way procrastinators 
can do in 14 days what they should have been working on for the last 24 
months.'

IMHO Come June 12, there will STILL be people who are not ready for the 
transition.  There are too many procrastinators who won't do anything 
until they can't watch their soaps or "American Idol".

Additionally, the delay will cost the communication industry additional 
Millions of dollars!  Stations have options, but all options have cost 
that the government, in its wisdom, caused but will not pay for.

Given that most TV station has started transmitting digital signals 
while continuing to transmit their analog signal they can:

* Wait until June to turn off analog TV. Continuing to pay for both 
analog and digital transmitters, towers, etc for 4 more months. (WETA 
$20,000/month, WTTG/WDCA $30,000/month)

* Switch to digital TV now as originally mandated. This may cost them 
audience if all the stations in their market don't also switch.  Viewers 
are habitual. If the CBS channel goes digital "all" those 
procrastinators will start watching NBC. Come June they may not go back 
to CBS. ("We can't be the only broadcaster in the market not to be 
broadcasting. It puts us at too much of a disadvantage." Christopher 
Lane, WETA)

This will also cost emergency services. The radio frequencies that are 
to be freed up by going digital, will not be available until June. So 
the advantages will be put off.  Additionally, many emergency services, 
fire, police, medical, etc lease their communications equipment. So the 
old leases/maintenance agreements will need to be continued in spite of 
their plans for the new systems.

'The new deadline will delay the (PG) county's plans to use the old 
analog airwaves to create an emergency response radio system for police 
and firefighters that will be inter operable with systems in surrounding 
counties. The county has spent $76 million to buy equipment and build 
the system but cannot start testing it until broadcasters vacate the 
airwaves.' said McBride, deputy director of public safety communications 
in Prince George's County.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020402584.html

Yes, I am one of those that think that the public/individuals are safer 
when congress is /*not*/ in session.

COC
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