Delaying Digital TV Only Adds to the Mess

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Rabbit Ears, standard and amplified antennas were designed for the older NTSC standard and not the newer digital standard imposed very soon in most of the United States. Fractals anyone. At least the televsion industry didn't ask for a bailout for installing and procuring digital equipment and cams for the conversion.

Oppenheim Doperman of LA 9:33AM January 27, 2009

I have two converter boxes. I then had to go out and buy antennas since I am presently using cable and can no longer afford it.
The antennas do not fit into the coax connection. I googled the best indoor antennas for my area. Also, since I presently have cable, I do not have a/v input plugs.
I understand that the transition is supposed to free-up broadband, but I agree with CarlB of Ohio - it definitely is a money issue - real good for cable and satellite companies business, but not for the consumer.

Margaret of NJ 7:59PM January 18, 2009

If there are fewer coupons than TV's in need of the same, this is no accident and is not the fault of "procrastination" on the part of consumers. Congress is forcing this transition because the auction of 14 TV channels in the 52-69 will bring in about $19 billion dollars - not exactly chump change. If even a tenth of that money were put into coupons, there would likely have been enough. Apparently the Senate originally (when the 2005 legislation behind this mess was passed) had tried to get a $3 billion limit for the coupon programme but the House wanted to cut this off at $1 billion. The result is an unwieldly compromise by which the coupon supply was *designed* to expire or run out before all TV's were converted, allowing Congress to walk away with the billions from the spectrum auction while individual viewers would be forced to eat the cost of converting the remaining TV's. This would have happened regardless of whether American TV viewers, as a collective group, had applied earlier or not. Apply earlier, the money runs out earlier, and the problem is the same.

CarlB of OH 3:55AM January 18, 2009

These people who have procrastinated, will have not switched, if their is a new delayed date. Lets get this done an those who have not done what they should have already done will find there way.

ChuckyDee of AL 12:29AM January 16, 2009