  toplevelpotUnlucky in women and cards
join:2008-04-19
Los Angeles, CA |  We've known for how long now?
--
"Sir, I protest! I am not a merry man!"
AT&T you're FIRED!!! | |
|
 |  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: We've known for how long now? said by toplevelpot:If you are just starting to get ready for the dtv transition, I feel no pity for you. Part of the problem is that a lot of the early DTV boxes are lame.... buggy, quality issues, some overheat and lock up, poor energy efficiency, weak features, etc etc
So some people were waiting for boxes that are coming but behind schedule....
I have a nice HDTV in the living room and I put up an OTA antenna on the roof and the HD digital picture is awesome... but my bedroom has an older SD and ReplayTV unit--- this TV and unit will become obsolete as of Feb 17th and so needs a box to remain useful--- I really don't feel the pressure to run out and by a new TV or Tivo etc right now, so I am using my coupons early because they are expiring--- and gambling on the box.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
| |
|
| |  tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5
·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| Re: We've known for how long now? said by KrK: Part of the problem is that a lot of the early DTV boxes are lame.... That is a very good point. Digital Tuners have gone though several generations as manufactures gain real world experience.
We purchased a couple of converter boxes a couple of months ago. Did not want to be an early adopter and wanted a box that did analog pass through. That makes life easier pretransition and we have a couple of low power analog stations so will not be completely digital come Feb.
/tom | |
|
|  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Me personally? I've known since about 1995 but that's me. | |
|
 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | This Program Deserves To Fail
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
|  spamdPremium
join:2001-04-22
Cherry Valley, IL | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail Can't wait until Feb 17 gets here. So we can stop wasting money and time on this issue. | |
|
| |  AMDUSERPremium
join:2003-05-28
Earth
kudos:1 | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail I've got a better idea, how about we turn off the analog right now. If they haven't prepared by now, the people with analog OTA probably will not be ready come Febuary. | |
|
| | |  ropeguruPremium
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by AMDUSER:I've got a better idea, how about we turn off the analog right now. If they haven't prepared by now, the people with analog OTA probably will not be ready come Febuary. Agreed.. Cause if they cannot afford a $49 set top box, then maybe they need to be out working and not sitting around watching TV. | |
|
| | | |  cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:5 | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail Says the person not on a fixed income...which is really what the program was suppose to help with. | |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | | | cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:5 Reviews:
 ·Frontier FiOS
1 edit | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by Juke Box:It has to do with the goberment wanting to to take all the analogue signals for their selves. First of all, it's there analog bandwidth to begin with ultimately. And if they were taking it for themselves, why would they auction it back off, to others? A better technology came about (DTV) and they are making use of it. Without them doing this, the analog spectrum would continued to be use forever as there would be no incentive for stations to switch.
The point is that every American that watches tv or not will have to switch. Period. Well, if they don't watch TV, they don't exactly have anything to switch.
And for the ones that do... Cable TV and Satellite have 65m customers. Dish Network has about 13.7m and DirecTV right around 20m. So that makes about 98.7m subscribers out of approximiately 112m households or 88%. Those subscribers would NOT need converter boxes unless they had a TV that was not hooked up.
I'm not saying that you can only benefit from the program if you are on fixed income. My reply was to the post by ropeguru  that says that if people can't afford a $49 STB that they need to be out working and not sitting around watching TV.
I'm not going to have sympathy for some DINK that is bitching and complaining that he isn't getting his $50 discount on his home entertainment center's 5th tuner. But for the elderly widow that is barely scraping by on a monthly social security check and would need to decide between food, medicines, or a $50 cable box, that is what I beleive this program really should have been for. | |
|
| | | | | ropeguruPremium
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA | Then it should have denied all those people not on fixed incomes the coupons. | |
|
| | | | | | | said by cdru:Says the person not on a fixed income...which is really what the program was suppose to help with. I think anyone here can afford $50. Credit cards anyone...
Oh..umm...sorry  .
But really, ropeguru does have a point, $50 for a box that lets you watch TV and should last you years doesn't cost you that much is pretty good. Consider the cost of a DVR or a cable set-top box. Plus you get more channels, and clearer, with DTV, so its kinda a no brainier. If you really can't afford $50, talk to your neighbors to see if they will loan you money, setup an outreach program, do something...just don't complain about it. Don't make the problem worse, always work towards the solution to the problem and you will go far. | |
|
| |
| |  John GaltForward, MarchPremium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp
kudos:3 | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by tschmidt:Coupon program is not taxpayer funded.As part of the digital TV transition FCC auctioned UHF channels 52-69. Auction generated billions in revenue. To compensate people for making analog TV obsolete a small portion of this revenue is being used to fund the coupon program. /tom What Tom said...
--
A is A | |
|
| | | | | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail All I got out of that was...
"SMALL portion of this revenue" | |
|
| | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | said by tschmidt:Coupon program is not taxpayer funded. If that is true (I don't believe that anything touched by Uncle Sam costs taxpayers nothing), then the buyers of the spectrum should have run the coupon program themselves, or better yet, just give the money to the companies making the boxes so they could be sold for less to begin with, instead of going through this coupon crap.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| | | | | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by pnh102:.... snip ..., then the buyers of the spectrum should have run the coupon program themselves, or better yet, just give the money to the companies making the boxes so they could be sold for less to begin with, instead of going through this coupon crap. OMG, NO NO NO! The telcos bought most of the spectrum. They would have raped the public harder than the government. | |
|
| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Oh cool! you're a comedian today too! lol
AT&T trusted to run a program that benefits the competition? hah! Seriously.. I am normally thinking the way you do.. but this one is way hard for me to support you on. | |
|
| | | | | | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail Well it sounds like a great idea to me. We give AT&T the $80 per household. Let AT&T run the program, selling the boxes for the $9.99 difference in price between the "coupon" and the retail price. Then they can tack on a "box service fee", a "digital transition recovery fee", and a "paper billing fee", along with some taxes and a USF fee, bringing the customer's total back up to $49.99.
They can then use the surplus of funds to buy the next FCC head and commissioners the way they have with Martin, ensuring "consumer friendly" regulation for years to come.
--
Intel Q6600 @3400Mhz/GA-EP35-DS3P/2x 2048Mb G.Skill/Seagate 750.10/EVGA 8800GT's SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler | |
|
| | axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC | That's like arguing that spending money from your checking account is different than spending money from your savings account | |
|
| |  Titus PulloI came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
kudos:1
·Embarq Now Centu..
| said by tschmidt:Coupon program is not taxpayer funded. As part of the digital TV transition FCC auctioned UHF channels 52-69. Auction generated billions in revenue. To compensate people for making analog TV obsolete a small portion of this revenue is being used to fund the coupon program. You have evidently interjected mitigating fact into a topic worthy of hate speak.
Housekeeping has been alerted.
** Disregard the quoted message and continue berating your fellow human beings **
Thank you
-- | |
|
|  danny9Go Ahead, Make My DayPremium
join:2002-07-14
Clinton Township, MI
kudos:2 | said by pnh102:Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway? If people who watch TV care enough about the long-overdue DTV transition, they can go take care of this themselves. Agreed!
--
VoicePulse 07/29/04 | |
|
| | | I totally agree. Isn't television entertainment? Why not government coupons for me to go to the movies and play miniature golf. Oh yes, bowling and golf certificates should be mandatory too. Not to mention that this is pretty clear. If you can't understand the conversion, let me give you some advice.
1. Turn off your television.
2. Unplug it from the wall.
3. Get a rubber mallet.
4. Start bashing yourself in the head with the mallet. That is your new free form of entertainment. Also, don't worry about any brain damage from the head blows because it really doesn't make a difference when one has no thought process to begin with. | |
|
| | Titus PulloI came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
kudos:1 | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail I have a New Years Resolution for you.
Read. The. Linked. Article. Before. Posting. Drivel.
-- | |
|
| | | | | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail That's why this is posted. The problem is either you don't know how or just regret to see who I responded to so stop your drivel. | |
|
| | | | said by BinaryXtreme:I totally agree. Isn't television entertainment? Why not government coupons for me to go to the movies and play miniature golf. Oh yes, bowling and golf certificates should be mandatory too. Not to mention that this is pretty clear. If you can't understand the conversion, let me give you some advice. 1. Turn off your television. 2. Unplug it from the wall. 3. Get a rubber mallet. 4. Start bashing yourself in the head with the mallet. That is your new free form of entertainment. Also, don't worry about any brain damage from the head blows because it really doesn't make a difference when one has no thought process to begin with. But don't you get it? Television is the primary means by which the government controls its subjects through big media propaganda. They can't afford to lose that segment of the population who watches TV, because they are the most impressionable and trusting of the government to do right in its infinite wisdom.  | |
|
| | | | | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail So true. | |
|
| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by pnh102:Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway? If people who watch TV care enough about the long-overdue DTV transition, they can go take care of this themselves. No taxpayer $ were used for this. Maybe next time getting some FACTS before posting stupidity would be good. | |
|
| | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by BF69:No taxpayer $ were used for this. Maybe next time getting some FACTS before posting stupidity would be good. Yes, you should.
If you bothered to read the article, which clearly you didn't, because you posted this idiocy, you would have learned that the government is being asked to pump more money into the program. Where does government get its money from?
I'll type it real slow so you understand... the government gets its money from taxpayers.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| | |  BK
join:2001-09-10
Wheaton, IL | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail Umm.. maybe you should do a little research...
The money came from auctioning off spectrum to companies. So definitely not taxpayers. | |
|
| | | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by BK:Umm.. maybe you should do a little research... The money came from auctioning off spectrum to companies. So definitely not taxpayers. Again.
The linked article is stating that the government is being asked to pour more money into this program over and beyond what was original provided by the companies to pay for the coupons.
Again.
The government gets its money from taxpayers.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| | | | | tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by pnh102: The government gets its money from taxpayers. In most cases yes. This is different.
Government made billions auctioning off RF spectrum. A small portion of those proceeds is being used to fund the Coupon program. The issue is whether or not to increase that amount. It is still much less then what the auction took in. This issue is more of a cash flow problem then a lack of funding. If funding is not increase most likely outcome is a delay in issuing cards. Cards automatically expire and redemption rate has been relatively low. As cards expire and not redeemed new cards can be issued.
If you are arguing government should not have auctioned the spectrum but rather given it away that is a different issue.
Seems to me Cards are true to fundamental notion of fairness. Government reduced private property value by selling RF spectrum. The cards compensate those who have lost private property as a result of this action.
Perhaps I misunderstand your objection. Are you not in favor of private property? Are you not in favor of restitution when government uses its power to take private property away from citizens?
/tom | |
|
| | | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail He's just ignorant of the issue. The auction raised $19.6 billion of which $1.34 bill was used for coupons. Even another $1 bil would be NOTHING. especially considering the government was only expecting to get $10 bil in the first place. | |
|
| | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by pnh102:said by BF69:No taxpayer $ were used for this. Maybe next time getting some FACTS before posting stupidity would be good. Yes, you should. If you bothered to read the article, which clearly you didn't, because you posted this idiocy, you would have learned that the government is being asked to pump more money into the program. Where does government get its money from? I'll type it real slow so you understand... the government gets its money from taxpayers. Boy even more stupidity.
A) it has been PROVEN that the money for these coupons are NOT taxpayer funded.
B) The extra money will come from the same source as the original funds.
just how more stupid do you want to make yourself look.
please do RESEARCH before posting.
Also I find the people that whine the most about taxpayer dollars hardly pay any taxes at all, if any. | |
|
| | | Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway?
MAYBE someone can tell me, WHEN did watching a tv or even local channels BECOME A RIGHT that people in the USA have?
watching or owning a tv is not a necessity item,(like food,water,rct)
jazzy
--
That being kind is more important than being right.
but some people think they are never wrong
| |
|
| | tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by whocares0:MAYBE someone can tell me, WHEN did watching a tv or even local channels BECOME A RIGHT that people in the USA have? That is not the right we are talking about, but I assume you know that and were making a rhetorical comment.
Might want to check out the 5th amendment. I've highlighted the relevant section.
quote:
Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
»www.usconstitution.net/const.html
/tom | |
|
| | | | said by whocares0:Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway? MAYBE someone can tell me, WHEN did watching a tv or even local channels BECOME A RIGHT that people in the USA have? watching or owning a tv is not a necessity item,(like food,water,rct) jazzy Government auctioned off spectrum, making private property effectively worthless. As a compensation, they are 'fixing' some of them, using the money earned from the sale to give converter boxes to users. | |
|
|  DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
2 edits | It's the government's responsibility since it's the gov't "breaking" their TV's and same gov't who made nearly $20B off of spectrum auctions. They can kick in a few more bucks from the DTV auction revenues for coupons. | |
|
| fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Why? .. becuase THE PEOPLE own the frequency and it's about time the people actually get to share in the profits of a sale of something we all own.
FAR better to go into the people's hands when the guv forces many people's property obsolete at the stroke of a pen.
Besides, we all bitch about unfunded mandates, we finally get one that's funded and people bitch?
Damn if you do, damn if you don't eh?
By the way, your first line contradicts:
"Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway?"
WE THE PEOPLE are not only the taxpayers, but we the people are also the government, and last I checked, OTA television IS a right to all people.
You also try to then justify your issue by saying it's a timing issue that if you haven't prepared by now then basically "screw you" then..
Your anger in this issue dominates your ability to be rational.
At some point, the government needs to stop consuming the people's resources. This is one program that is a good start. They used the money from the sales to fund this.. I think it's perfectly fine what they did in this case.
| |
|
| | | said by pnh102:Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway? If people who watch TV care enough about the long-overdue DTV transition, they can go take care of this themselves. Since the taxpayers who were perfectly satisfied with tv as it was were forced to give up perfectly working sets. You mandate change, you make it possible.
The government made an enormous profit on this deal, it wasn't done out of kindness. And I doubt very much you care about "the taxpayers". | |
|
| | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by goalieskates:Since the taxpayers who were perfectly satisfied with tv as it was were forced to give up perfectly working sets. You mandate change, you make it possible. Oh poo. Technology changes. On another thread, it is being claimed that AT&T is dumping part of its EDGE service in favor of 3G. Should the government (or AT&T for that matter) be required to subsidize new 3G phones for the affected users?
What about when we dumped AMPS last year? Why was there no massive government coupon program to get the last of the AMPS users to newer cell phones?
If TV is that important to someone, they will upgrade, on their own. If you can afford to own a TV, you can afford to pay the full price of a converter box.
I also take this angle, as pointed out on The Simpsons awhile back: "TV Networks give you thousands of hours of entertainment for free, what do they owe you?"
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| | | | | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by pnh102:Yes, AT&T should absolutely be required to subsidize new 3G phones for those who signed - and are still under - contracts with the older phones. --
Intel Q6600 @3400Mhz/GA-EP35-DS3P/2x 2048Mb G.Skill/Seagate 750.10/EVGA 8800GT's SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler | |
|
|  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | said by pnh102:Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway? If people who watch TV care enough about the long-overdue DTV transition, they can go take care of this themselves. the cellphone companies should be funding this because they're what this move to digital is all about.
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
|
| | tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by dvd536: the cellphone companies should be funding this because they're what this move to digital is all about. Indirectly they are. Where do you think coupon program money is coming from? It is about 10% of spectrum auction proceeds.
/tom | |
|
| |
| | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: This Program Deserves To Fail said by RR Conductor:Man, you should move to Somalia, where they have no pesky government programs to annoy, of course, you'll have to deal with being shot at, starved and other nice things. Funny you mention that. There never seems to be a cop around when you need one, unless it is to give you a traffic ticket.
I know that policing is not a federal responsibility, but the fact that the government is being asked to pay for entertainment (be it in the form of expanded TV coupon subsidies, stadiums, etc.) while government services that should be provided suffer say a lot about spending priorities in this country.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| | | said by pnh102:Since when is it the taxpayers' responsibility to guarantee peoples' "right" to watch TV anyway? If people who watch TV care enough about the long-overdue DTV transition, they can go take care of this themselves. Since the gummiment decided to change the pre-existing scheme, and not have it be backwards compatible. Like adding color to TV, or stereo to FM. The gummiment is makeing a bundle from the airwave auction, and so they should actually pay the whole bill to convert my existing built in TV. I'm glad they will cover a good chunk of it with the coupon. | |
|
tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| My not be a big deal Hard to tell if this is really an issue or not.
Expired coupons get recycled.
Impossible to tell how many folks opted to get a new TV rather then converter box.
My understanding is there was a recent bump in requests leading to concern coupon program is underfunded. My guess most folks who want a coupon have already requested one. The next big bump with likely occur Feb 17, 2009 where the 10% who are not paying attention get a surprise.
/tom | |
|
spamdPremium
join:2001-04-22
Cherry Valley, IL | Nuff said!!! Read above posts... | |
|
| | Outrageous I have advice for anybody who turns on their TV after this D-Day conversion and it doesn't work: Go buy another TV out of your own pocket.
Why is the government so desperate to make sure everybody has TV anyway?
--
"Don't steal. The government hates competition." | |
|
|  ShadowMastrMaster Of All Shadows
join:2001-09-01
Fort Pierce, FL | Re: Outrageous said by BillRoland:I have advice for anybody who turns on their TV after this D-Day conversion and it doesn't work: Go buy another TV out of your own pocket. Why is the government so desperate to make sure everybody has TV anyway? How else are they going to 'program' society to be dumb and uninterested in the affairs of the world?
As long as the general population is more concerned about who the next freakin american idol is going to be, or which movie star is boinking who, or how many unreal 'reality shows' can be watched, they can't be concerned with the economy, or notice that they have to work 60 hours a week to barely survive and pay their multitude of bills, and looking for ways to get out of that rat trap.
--
Follow Your Bliss -- Joseph Cambell
I reject your Reality and substitute my own! -- Adam Savage, Mythbuster | |
|
| | Pv8man
join:2008-07-24
Hammond, IN | Re: Outrageous Very true, government needs to be able to program the citizens with PR and BS.
Why do you think everyone is interested in INTERNET video.
BECAUSE IT'S %100 UN-CENCORED!!!! and free...
which is what true freedom is, but that will all change in time to come, and you won't be able to see the clips that certain groups of people don't want you to see. | |
|
| | | | said by ShadowMastr:said by BillRoland:I have advice for anybody who turns on their TV after this D-Day conversion and it doesn't work: Go buy another TV out of your own pocket. Why is the government so desperate to make sure everybody has TV anyway? How else are they going to 'program' society to be dumb and uninterested in the affairs of the world? As long as the general population is more concerned about who the next freakin american idol is going to be, or which movie star is boinking who, or how many unreal 'reality shows' can be watched, they can't be concerned with the economy, or notice that they have to work 60 hours a week to barely survive and pay their multitude of bills, and looking for ways to get out of that rat trap. Hmm I don't know. PBS likes to air a lot of international news shows. You'd think the government would rather pimp a TV service that doesn't pick up a dozen PBS channels... | |
|
| | | said by BillRoland:Why is the government so desperate to make sure everybody has TV anyway? They will SAY it's for public safety reasons... storm warnings and the like. | |
|
| | | | Re: Outrageous Well .. Quite Frankly,
If they really thought that, im sure that if you really needed to know about a really bad storm coming your way, either a) youll check the radio or b) someone can always call you .. or c) you can get the TV yourself.
if the person dies from the storm .. well dont blame the government for not giving you the TV to warn you .
what do you think people did in the old days years before TV .:) | |
|
 tc
@sbc.com | simple Just change the T&C to include "while supplies last". No need for more funding... | |
|
| fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: simple said by tc :
Just change the T&C to include "while supplies last". No need for more funding...
Didn't know the constitution had terms and conditions written corporation style.
Read the 5th please.. it's been outlined in this very forum already.
The government is not out anything. They, as has also been stated, raised near 20b in funds. They can take from that fund and continue to remain constitutionally sound to the people as they are required. | |
|
Doug45
join:2002-08-27
Wheaton, IL
kudos:1 | Overblown Another headline to grab attention. Read the article: there is enough cash for 51.5 million coupons. Even though 44.9 million have been requested, only 18 million have been redeemed with 10.8 million still in circulation that could be redeemed. What they don't tell you is that the coupons expire, so that would mean the remainder (44.9 requested - 18 redeemed - 10.8 in circulation = 16.1 expired) are expired.
So even if all the 10.8 million in circulation are redeemed, there would still be enough money to cover 51.5 - 18 - 10.8 = 22.7 million coupons.
This is just another entity looking for more cash whether they need it or not. | |
|
| | Not everyone who owns a TV actually watches it "as many as 8 million households are still unprepared"
7.4 million probably never turn their TV on. They have never seen any of the several million PSAs and won't miss anything of importance when Feb 17 rolls around. | |
|
|  DrModemPremium
join:2006-10-19
USA
kudos:1 | Re: Not everyone who owns a TV actually watches it I live in a bowl that blocks all OTA signals (TV, Radio, Cell, everything)
I have no need for a converter, and even if I wasn't in this bowl I don't watch TV since most of it is garbage anyway. | |
|
| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Not everyone who owns a TV actually watches it said by DrModem:I live in a bowl that blocks all OTA signals (TV, Radio, Cell, everything) I have no need for a converter, and even if I wasn't in this bowl I don't watch TV since most of it is garbage anyway. So then you're not affected..
Ma!! Mark one more off the list. | |
|
 XBL2009------
join:2001-01-03
Chicago, IL
·EarthLink
·AT&T Midwest
| Stop Complaining !!! American Taxpayers are not paying for this, it is funded by spectrum auctions that have already generated billions for the Fed so they will make a big profit from the transition.
--
Capitalism is competition, if you don't have competition then you don't have capitalism.
| |
|
| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Stop Complaining !!! said by XBL2009:American Taxpayers are not paying for this, it is funded by spectrum auctions that have already generated billions for the Fed so they will make a big profit from the transition. Oh please quit posting your FACTS and stuff. How can stupid people have something to bitch about when you post FACTS? | |
|
| | now... enough has truly been said. Much of what is on TV is garbage so who cares! | |
|
|
See 6 replies to this post |
|
 dslwanterIt's comingPremium
join:2002-12-16
Niles, OH
1 edit | Seriously Just get friggin cable or a dish already. | |
|
| elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Seriously said by dslwanter:Just get friggin cable or a dish already. Uh, no.
I'd be fine with the guvmint selling off the spectrum (for a lot more than $20B) and replacing local TV with a national digital satellite transmission system (think Directv spot beams), providing, of course, they gave us absolute rights to install dishes - I can't, without a private balcony space.
"Friggin cable" costs me $55 a month, before the next round of price hikes. What you suggest amounts to a new $660 annual tax. No thanks.
OTA TV may see archaic and primitive to you, but it is more than enough for me, if the pay-tv industry doesn't want to offer the consumer low-cost options to watch pay-channels. The RF spectrum used for TV is owned by the public; a case can be made to take it away, IFF a suitable replacement is offered. DTV is that replacement. But I don't think we need a converter-box coupon program. | |
|
thumbs down from:
dentman42
| They hardly gave out any Everyone I know who applied for a coupon never received one. When they asked, they were denied for one reason or another and told to appeal. Once they appealed, they were approved, but never received their coupon. Where did all the money go? | |
|
|
See 6 replies to this post |
|
pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Again, this is a Request for a Taxpayer Infusion of Cash quote:
Now the NTIA is warning that unless lawmakers step in quickly with more funding or new accounting rules, it will have to create a waiting list for coupon requests. That would mean it could send out additional coupons only as unredeemed ones expire, freeing up more money for the program.
In other words, if Congress doesn't act soon, consumers who apply for coupons in the final weeks leading up to the digital transition might not get them in time.
"If the government invests in just a few million TV converter boxes, which is a drop in the bucket of the enormous amount of money being spent on the stimulus package, it would do more good to keep all households connected," said Gene Kimmelman, vice president for federal policy at Consumers Union.
The article makes it very clear that the government (i.e. taxpayers) are being asked to to intervene.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Again, this is a Request for a Taxpayer Infusion of Cash "Now the NTIA is warning that unless lawmakers step in quickly with more funding or new accounting rules, it will have to create a waiting list for coupon requests."
You're right.. more funding, but they didn't say from where. New accounting rules, can also mean they are allowed to allocate more of the sale money to the program.
"TaxPayer" doesn't always mean pulling money out of your pocket.. the "TAX PAYER" OWNS all the government money.. the government owns NOTHING. So, intervening is a broad statement. Accounting rules play the largest part of this "non issue"... Besides, this article is still at the mercy of an idiot in control of the pen and his or her own personal slant on the subject at hand.
One thing for sure, the author of all involved here can step back and be entertained by the controversy they are creating. | |
|
| | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: Again, this is a Request for a Taxpayer Infusion of Cash said by fiberguy:You're right.. more funding, but they didn't say from where. New accounting rules, can also mean they are allowed to allocate more of the sale money to the program. When "Congress is asked to help," it always means the taxpayer gets screwed. Look at the recent bailouts... that money, one way or another, comes from the taxpayer.
--
Blagojevich / Madoff 2012! | |
|
| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Again, this is a Request for a Taxpayer Infusion of Cash said by pnh102:said by fiberguy:You're right.. more funding, but they didn't say from where. New accounting rules, can also mean they are allowed to allocate more of the sale money to the program. When "Congress is asked to help," it always means the taxpayer gets screwed. Look at the recent bailouts... that money, one way or another, comes from the taxpayer. So, if/when it happens, then we can bitch about it..
.. When congress is asked to help, it makes that, since congress makes laws, they have to change the law that allocated the funds and as for more money.
Being "screwed" is an opinion. To some conservatives, anytime tax payer money is used, the tax payer is screwed. To liberals when nothing is spent or given to them, the tax payer is screwed. For these reasons, I tend to ignore "the tax payer is screwed" comments.. where I do NOT ignore them is where the tax payer is really being screwed - such as the bailout of criminals on Wall Street. Or, every time we send money to a foreign country, or when an official allocates funding for projects in the form on an ear mark for the study in making cat fish taste better and so on.
Yes,... MOST of the bailouts were a waist of tax payer money, in that I agree. Where it would NOT have been a waste of money is when they did real investigations into the people responsible so more execs, like in Enron, would have committed suicide.
In this case, I don't think the tax payer is being screwed at all. They raised 20 billion on the sale of the spectrum and allocated 1+ billion on the system in order to be legal. They can CERTAINLY dip into the other 18+ billion and pull some more funds. This is where the accounting part comes in. What were they going to do with the other 18 billion? Put it in the general fund?
So still, I don't buy "the tax payer gets screwed" every time government spends money.. I think much of the spending is wasted.. but that is my opinion and I can't claim fact on it; neither can you. | |
|
Core0000Premium
join:2008-05-04
Somerset, KY Reviews:
·New Wave Communi..
| XD Lmfao...@ "Uncle Sam Digital TV Coupon Program Needs Bailout"...
I wonder how deep this hole the federal government digs is gonna get?  | |
|
| | | Re: XD Well, considering they enacted eight years of tax cuts but tripled their spending and continue to do so - the hole will probably end up going to China. | |
|
zerog
join:2002-02-10
Carrollton, TX
kudos:1 |  isn't rf spectrum is taxpayer property
isn't rf spectrum effectively public property that is licensed to private entities through the government (fcc), much like access and resources on public land are leased to private companies? In that case, wouldn't the money raised through auctioning spectrum effectively be taxpayer money? | |
|
| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: isn't rf spectrum is taxpayer property said by zerog:question for those arguing about whether the money comes from taxpayers: isn't rf spectrum effectively public property that is licensed to private entities through the government (fcc), much like access and resources on public land are leased to private companies? In that case, wouldn't the money raised through auctioning spectrum effectively be taxpayer money? No it would be EVERYONE's money if you look at it that way. Thus EVERYONE would be entitled to some compensation. Which is what the government is doing with these coupons. | |
|
| | Truthfully, I've dumped TV and couldn't be happier. I have now dumped TV and am quite happy--if I want to watch shows, I go to Hulu. (Personally, I find the content of most shows pathetic and I got tired of paying a hefty satellite TV bill for sub par content that was repeated over and over and over.) I realize that I'm fortunate enough to have this as an option since I have broadband and many people aren't as lucky.
The FCC waited far too long to test out Digital TV. Their trials have revealed what a fiasco it will be for those few who were fortunate enough to find equipment before their government coupons expired. (My region only got boxes within the past 3 months.) The FCC was shocked that digital signals don't seem to travel as far and many regions that could get an off air analog signal cannot get any digital signal.
Bob Dole was Senate leader when the bill pushing Digital TV was passed. I was working Congressional Hill at the time and remember his floor statement, which wasn't very supportive of the whole concept. His words will ring true--it wasn't consumer demand driving this but industries that want to make more money off them. | |
|
|
See 9 replies to this post |
|
| | The only......... people this is going to affect are 80 year old grandmothers who have no family left and live alone in crumbling buildings on welfare and social security who sit in their rocking chair all day with a afghan over their lap and have an old cat who watch channel 63 all day.
It is unfortunate that this quality of life (or lack there of) still exists in the so called richest country in the entire known universe but it does.
However the percentage of people in this catagory is less than 1 percent of the population. If millions of people stil aren't prepared for this it's because they don't care or haven't bothered to be ready. You know most people will wait until the last day or even a few days after until they get a paycheck and HAVE to go get a box. The coupon doesn't cover the ENTIRE cost. | |
|
| | EBS It is a shame no one here realizes TV provides more than useless programming. I guess none of you live in tornado alley where you depend on local stations to communicate weather warnings, etc. TV generally, and the Emergency Broadcast System specifically, is a tool for urgent mass communications. That info shouldn't only be available to those paying for private broadcast services (cable/sat/iptv) since the OTA broadcast is on public spectrum.
Also note that some folks w/ sat still get OTA for local channels due to rebroadcast agreements or just to save $5.
That said, my primary concern is how to retrofit my emergency weather radios since they receive the analog OTA channels. I suppose someone will make an HD/digital version at some point if they haven't already. | |
|
|  eatatjozPremium
join:2002-06-16
Mayflower, AR
kudos:3 | Re: EBS The only thing I use my television for is emergency broadcasts, and a monitor to watch a DVD about once every other month. I see no need in buying a $800 HD T.V. for that. Nor will I pay for a converter for something the government is trying to strong-arm me into for a few corporate bucks.
Keeping up with local emergencies, with live reporting, and pictures is nice to have, but I can do without.
I'll just revert to my WX radio (if it will still work), AM radio, and use the computer for DVD's.
I wonder how long AM/FM will be around after this little pocket padding is deemed successful.
--
"I hope you did something important today, 'cause it cost ya another day of your life." | |
|
| | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: EBS said by eatatjoz:The only thing I use my television for is emergency broadcasts, and a monitor to watch a DVD about once every other month. I see no need in buying a $800 HD T.V. for that. Nor will I pay for a converter for something the government is trying to strong-arm me into for a few corporate bucks. Keeping up with local emergencies, with live reporting, and pictures is nice to have, but I can do without. I'll just revert to my WX radio (if it will still work), AM radio, and use the computer for DVD's. I wonder how long AM/FM will be around after this little pocket padding is deemed successful. Um the digital transition has NOTHING ot do with HD. Jeez when will be educate themselves. Sorry you're too cheap to spend $15 on a converter box. Also no one is strong arming anything. You mention emergency broadcast. you realize the main reason for this transition is to help emergency responders be more effective but hey why let FACTS get in the way of an ignorant rant. | |
|
KiwiPremium
join:2003-05-26
USA/MidWest
kudos:1 Reviews:
·Comcast
| TV I'm on a 60 day count down plan to rid myself of the 'Cheaper' digital service, I can't in good faith continue to pay $80+ dollars a month for garbage; on a BASIC plan. All I have to do is convince my Daughter that the MTV type media can be found elsewhere. Having already migrated her to more appropriate and less expensive media outlets, it's not long before my TV service gets the 'Nod'.
Would perhaps never happened had I been able to keep DishNetwork, around $30.00 a month for basic is realistic.
Now, once that problem is solved, just have to figure out how to kill that other golden goose -AT&T cell phone service.
The whole digital thing is supposed to be cheaper than analog, coulda fooled me. | |
|
| | My concern... I certainly agree with the article that the education campaign on television has really been ramped up recently and that this probably explains the increase in demand.
The redemption rate seems to be very low, which bothers me.
I'm wondering whether those who have absorbed most of the coupons, up to this point, were people in the know, the technically proficient, and I'm wondering if many of them didn't really need a coupon or ordered two when they really only needed one. Those outstanding will expire in 3 months from the date created but, at this point, that might not be enough to cover those who don't have them yet, but need them in the next month. In fact it looks like a significant number of them won't expire before the program closes.
It was supposed to be structured so that a certain proportion of coupons were set aside for those who use ONLY ota. Of course this was tied to whether people were honest in answering the question about whether they had an alternative television feed.
It would be a shame if those who most need them do without because people absorbed a significant number of the coupons with no sure intent to use them. | |
|
|
|
