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Entry bubble Digital TV Transition Deadline Delay

By: Jake | February 16, 2009 | Category: General

DTV CartoonThe good news is that Congress and the President moved the analog to digital TV signal transition deadline that requires television stations to stop analog broadcast signals from February 17 (tomorrow) to June 12. They did this to give those with analog TVs some time to be able to receive digital signals. The bad news is that not all stations will wait until June 12 to end their analog broadcasts.

The Federal Communications Commission reports that approximately 650 of the 1800 full-power stations plan to end analog broadcasts on February 17, so if you have an analog TV and no converter box you may notice some channels missing.

UPDATE: Last night the FCC released a list of channels that will end analog broadcast on February 17. If you have an analog TV and want to know what you need do to get prepared check out this DTV FAQ, watch the video below or call a DTV call center. What do you think of the government's action to delay the digital TV transition deadline? Do you find it helpful or unnecessary?

On Februray 17th Gov Gab will be turning the keys over to our new substitute blogger Leilani who will post about the DTV transition in Spanish to assist our Spanish readers. Or as she would say: Mañana Gov Gab hará algo un poco distinto y le dará la bienvenida a Leilani, nuestro nuevo blogger substituto, quien presentará información en español sobre este mismo tema - la transición a la televisión digital - para ayudar a nuestros lectores de habla hispana.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [12] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: dtv   dtv_transition_deadline_delay   jake   june_12  

Comments (12):

blue comment bubble Posted by Mark on February 16, 2009 at 09:07 AM EST

Not everyone considers this delay a good thing. There was ample publicity in advance, and it seems unlikely that anyone watching analog TV failed to learn that this was happening. This change will harm the ability of public safety organizations to use the new radio spectrum freed up by the transition until June.

The transition will also now be during both tornado season and hurricane season. The argument that the delay is necessary in order to save people from losing all ability to hear emergency broadcasts is therefore inaccurate.

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blue comment bubble Posted by j on February 16, 2009 at 12:00 PM EST

Oh no! The deadline is TODAY!! I better get out and get my converter box now!! This is the first I have heard of this!!

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blue comment bubble Posted by k b mcdaniel on February 16, 2009 at 01:36 PM EST

The delay will certainly help many in this transition. I applied for the coupons around Sept or October, 08.
I was in a auto accident and had surgery. Since I live alone, when the cards came, I just added them to a box of things to deal with later, I wasn't feeling up to going shopping and dealing with how to use them at that time. Since the ads said, the converter boxes weren't needed until Feb. 2009, I felt I could shop for them closer to that date.
Mid January, I got the envelope out and went to buy the two boxes I had coupons for. When at Best Buy, I opened the mail and handed the cards to the sales clerk and was told they weren't any good, they expired in Novemember. This is very upsetting for me. I don't have the funds to buy them without the coupons and cant afford to keep cable, due to my job situation.
I didn't hear anything about the coupons expiring, especially prior to the transition. I need them and can't find anyone to assist me with my problem. If you can help me to be able to use my coupons, please help me! Thank you.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Unknown on February 17, 2009 at 10:11 AM EST

My mother has watched channel 12 for many years. Now she has been forced to switch due to early conversion to digital. The screen is flickering and the sound and picture is going in and out. As far as I can see this did nothing to improve the picture or sound quality at all. Is there any way to fix this very annoying issue????

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blue comment bubble Posted by Mike on February 17, 2009 at 01:08 PM EST

One can only imagine this is a good thing now if the programming could catch up to the technology.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Amanda D on February 17, 2009 at 01:10 PM EST

Sure, I knew of the transition. I actually recall back in the 90's when the idea was first thrown out there. That being said, I find more important things in my life, such as feeding and clothing my son. I have my coupons but area stores are continually sold out of the converters so I still do not have mine. I understand why it was done, I just don't understand the URGENCY. The delay isn't going to hurt anyone.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Lloyd on February 17, 2009 at 09:41 PM EST

Hey Amanda,
I was just at Best Buy two days ago. They had a pallet stack of converters available. Do you have a Best Buy anywhere you live? If not check out Best Buy Online. They have three models available. Better get one before they're all gone too!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on February 18, 2009 at 08:42 AM EST

Everyone it looks like the Economic Stimulus law that President Obama signed yesterday will include some funding for the digital converter box coupons:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/autoNews/idUKTRE51G5ZG20090217

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blue comment bubble Posted by Amanda on February 18, 2009 at 09:46 AM EST

Thanks Lloyd, actually, I did get mine last night, twisted my own arm to do so. Woopee. At least my son had fun playing with the box. :)

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blue comment bubble Posted by DavidB on February 19, 2009 at 08:23 AM EST

Thanks FCC, you've created an incomprehensible mess nationwide for the average non tech savvy user. The situation will be no better in june than it was this week.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ron on February 19, 2009 at 12:09 PM EST

The premise that the DTV delay is good news is not shared by all. Once the archaic analog signals are moved, the spectrum will be freed up for other purposes, such as high speed wireless Internet.

With the Internet and sites like http://Spreety.com, there is little rationale for continuing to spend lots of money using towers for such a limited range. Let's move forward with good speed to the future of entertainment with the Internet

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blue comment bubble Posted by Anita Allen-Goggans on February 22, 2009 at 04:32 AM EST

I cannot understand how can a county(USA) of such standards and high regard for education allow the American greed, poverty, theft, lies, corruption and all other words that apply to what just happen in the past year. Simply put, Obama just has his seat for 30 days and a seat it is. Not because of our previous presidents, but because of what our previous presidents, have allow materializing. We all understand the good and bad and right from wrong; this is common sense. I speak for the little people as you call anyone who does not make an adequate salary. You continuously have a name for poor or people living okay but not as well as middle class. We know what the people of government are doing. We all feel that the people who are in positions are bought just like the common whore (I believe that who gets bought for a price or fee illegally). So, if we little people are looking at a distance about what the people in charge are doing; what do you think the world sees? The international world says, Hmmm, America so greedy they put their people into shame by thievery and homelessness, how can they talk about other country. I do hope our newly elected President understands how embarrassing it is to have highly educated people on Wall Street, Congress, Federal and State that allow so many scams to be in effect for years until someone got paid off and paid well then decided to pull the plug on certain crooks to cover there Um. I hope someone read this carefully because in front of all the people below the pyramid, you all look like bamboozles.

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