said by pnh102 :

Who do these morons who haven't upgraded have lobbying on their behalf?

said by baineschile :

But this article, to me, is very important. Its the first step of a streamlined video/internet/wireless, which, we all know eventually will be just one entity.

said by pnh102 :

Which will never happen because the DTV transition will be perpetually delayed.

On June 12 another extension will be passed, once again to assist the moronic fools who still refuse to buy new TVs or get converter boxes.

said by BF69 :

You won't get another delay. The only reason you got a compromoise in the Senate was because they promised no more delays. Those against the delay won't compromise again.

said by pnh102 :

I agree with what else you said but Congress can pretty much make any law it wants to regarding the DTV transition. Even if Congress said "this is the last time" there's nothing stopping it from passing another delay.

said by pnh102 :

I highly doubt the DTV transition is going to be subject to a filibuster considering what the GOP has chosen to not filibuster in the past 2 weeks. If anything, once the inevitable request to delay the new June transition date comes up, it will pass.

I mean this is the Congress after all, can we really count on it to do the right thing when it really matters? Of course not.

said by pnh102 :

Even if Congress said "this is the last time" there's nothing stopping it from passing another delay.

said by Jim Gurd :

That's why the stations need to just pull the trigger on 2/17 and be done with it. Believe me if I was a general manager for one of the broadcasters I would pull the plug on analog at 12:00am on the 17th.

This article wont have a ton of comments about it

said by Karl Bode :

On the contrary, it's interesting to note that every article we post on the DTV transition seems to get a huge volume of user comments. Seems to interest a broad spectrum of people...

said by SRFireside :

Yeah, but the interest seems to be usually tons of rants and raves from both sides of the issue. Not a whole lot of constructive discussion or intellectual debate. Just people venting.

said by SRFireside :

Yeah, but the interest seems to be usually tons of rants and raves from both sides of the issue. Not a whole lot of constructive discussion or intellectual debate. Just people venting.

said by Jahntassa :

Here's constructive discussion:

Explain how the delay will help.

Once that's done, then we can discuss.

said by ChuckIL9 :

Pushing this thing back to June means I don't have to get out on her snow covered roof and install a new antenna when the wind chill is below zero.

said by Karl Bode :

On the contrary, it's interesting to note that every article we post on the DTV transition seems to get a huge volume of user comments. Seems to interest a broad spectrum of people...

said by sabersaw :

Because the real issues are too confusing for the masses. I don't see how people are emotionally wrapped up in this debate. What are these people going to get once the transition is complete? Why would anyone really care?

Personally though I hope it never happens. But only because I want to have access to information during an emergency.

said by jweek :

what does "have access to information during and emergency" have to do with DTV signals?

said by pnh102 :

Who do these morons who haven't upgraded have lobbying on their behalf?

Oh and here's the vote breakdown: »clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp···umber=52

said by R4M0N :

"it's not my fault" mentality that is destroying this country. And the government is more than happy to come in and perpetuate it by saying "we know it's not your fault and we're here to help you".

Guess what's going to happen 4 months from now? A ton of money will have been spent and only a fraction of the people who were unprepared now will be prepared then.

Government efficiency at its best.

said by BF69 :

if stations can turn off analog on Feb 17th "if they are ready" which most are, then WTF is the point? Some lazy douchebag will think he's got until June 12th then bitch when on Feb 18th he doesn't have any TV.

said by AstroBoy :

If this is true then the reason for the delay is a false. It is not about the customers. The delay must be there to protect the stations.

Do the people that bought the spectrum get a credit because of the delay? If so, we know why Verizon wanted the delay. They were not ready and did not want to start paying yet.

said by anon123 :

I was also looking forward to the improved DTV reception that would happen when stations move their digital broadcasts to VHF. They can't do this until analog is shut off.

said by BF69 :

Only a very few were moving back to VHF.

said by anon123 :

They should have just gone through with the switch on Feb 17. Most of the people who aren't ready now won't switch until the analog broadcast is shut off anyway. It costs stations like $20,000 a month in electricity alone to keep the analog broadcast running.

I was also looking forward to the improved DTV reception that would happen when stations move their digital broadcasts to VHF. They can't do this until analog is shut off.

said by Sammer :

Before wasting a couple of trillion dollars they decided this was important?

said by h7 :

Well you know, giving away billions/trillions of taxpayer dinero to big banks and verizon that is easy; but giving away 350 million coupons for $40 off a digital converter box, woh that is too hard. :P

said by jay_rm :

SO...*WAS* the provision to allow 'ready' markets to transition on 2/17 included in this bill ????

said by TKJunkMail :

YES. But the FCC still has to OK all cutovers. Republicans on the rules committee wanted to allow early cutovers happen without FCC having the power to block them. But that amendment was shot down 7 to 2. So expect Copps and Adelstein to block nearly all early cutovers.