Analog TVs - Safe Until 2012?

[Sonnie]

Analog TVs - Safe Until 2012?

From: AVRev News

The Federal Communications Commission has issued new rules for the 2009 Digital Broadcast Switchover. This latest regulation change insures that cable subscribers will still be able to watch standard broadcast programming after the transition until the year 2012, even if they don’t yet own a digital TV.

Beginning February 18, 2009, broadcast networks will stop transmitting the standard analog signals to over-the-air viewers and cable companies. Cable companies will need to convert the digital signal to analog at the source or supply their customers with a "down converter" unit. However, small cable companies will be able to request a waiver.

The extension of the availability of analog broadcast signals through cable companies to 2012 was put in place because the FCC is concerned that approximately 40 million U.S. households are still analog-only subscribers. This appears to be a generous extension as the majority of households now use digital cable or a satellite signal and have migrated to digital televisions, many of which are high-def.

For those who think this regulation change is good for the environment, as it will keep millions of obsolete analog TVs from filling up our landfills on February 19, 2009 think again. In reality this extension will give more people a reason to not yet upgrade to a digital set, and then when the extension runs out in 2012, there will be even more unusable analog TVs in U.S. households to dump into the trash.

Source: AVRev News

I think this is going to be a big fiasco.

[hyghwayman]

Sonnie wrote:

Analog TVs - Safe Until 2012?

From: AVRev News

The Federal Communications Commission has issued new rules for the 2009 Digital Broadcast Switchover. This latest regulation change insures that cable subscribers will still be able to watch standard broadcast programming after the transition until the year 2012, even if they don’t yet own a digital TV.

Beginning February 18, 2009, broadcast networks will stop transmitting the standard analog signals to over-the-air viewers and cable companies. Cable companies will need to convert the digital signal to analog at the source or supply their customers with a "down converter" unit. However, small cable companies will be able to request a waiver.

The extension of the availability of analog broadcast signals through cable companies to 2012 was put in place because the FCC is concerned that approximately 40 million U.S. households are still analog-only subscribers. This appears to be a generous extension as the majority of households now use digital cable or a satellite signal and have migrated to digital televisions, many of which are high-def.

For those who think this regulation change is good for the environment, as it will keep millions of obsolete analog TVs from filling up our landfills on February 19, 2009 think again. In reality this extension will give more people a reason to not yet upgrade to a digital set, and then when the extension runs out in 2012, there will be even more unusable analog TVs in U.S. households to dump into the trash.

Source: AVRev News

trust7 wrote:

I think this is going to be a big fiasco.

It's big, very BIG!

[ampire]

For those who think this regulation change is good for the environment, as it will keep millions of obsolete analog TVs from filling up our landfills on February 19, 2009 think again. In reality this extension will give more people a reason to not yet upgrade to a digital set, and then when the extension runs out in 2012, there will be even more unusable analog TVs in U.S. households to dump into the trash.

That is so dumb. Most consumer electronics places don't even sell crt's anymore so why would the whole increased "dump in the trash" argument make sense.
The whole thing was stupid to begin with and if I wasn't in grad school right now id snatch up all the nearly free 2 year old HDTV rear projections that are all over the place on Craigslist that cost maybe $6000 or so new because a few bozo's don't know how to recalibrate their units so went out and bought lplasmas.

[brandonnash]

The constant delays are not something that congress should be involved in. They should also ABSOLUTELY not have given out all those vouchers. They make it seem like we have to have tv to live. $40 for a converter box is something that anyone that has a tv can come up with one way or another. To send out millions of those vouchers is beyond me.

What happens when someone finally says we can no longer have gasoline powered cars? Everything is going to be electric or solar powered. Do we buy cars for all those who can't afford to buy a new car?

[jasonstilwell]

I don't think any TVs went out on that day.