The Big TV Switch is Bunny Ears to Digital Box – All Over Google Earth
On Feb. 17, Americans will lose analog “bunny ears antenna” TV systems and get shimmery new digital TV images if they push all the right buttons at home… or maybe not. Congress could still delay the day analog TV dies. Last week, Gov. David Paterson called on federal lawmakers to delay the switch to digital “for as long as it takes” consumers to get the decoder boxes to enable old TVs to pick up the signal. Whether politicians delay digital, the historic transition to the new technology will not be seamless. But for most viewers it will mean sharper images.
Also, by rolling out digital TV, the FCC can reclaim former analog TV spectrum for other applications for billions in fees, primarily to broadband wireless Internet providers. As well the government will monitor what you watch, inevitably those in regin will market information to you based on your interests, and brainwash to you to buy what they want you to buy. In addition, the “decoder box” is a force install what is basically a story right out of 1984, Big Brother is watching you watch digital TV.
As folks must now equip themselves to see the new digital TV channels — but only if they don’t have cable or satellite decoder boxes already feeding their TV sets. To see digital TV broadcast signals, you need a decoder for your old analog set, or a TV set or tuner that will detect and reproduce a digital ATSC-TV signal. And don’t forget to hook up a good antenna.
Ed Gable of Hilton, a huge Prcie is Right fan, holds a federal coupon that can be used toward the purchase of a converter that allows old TVs to receive digital signals. Behind Gable are old televisions from the ’50s to the ’70s. After the switchover, experts say you will have more and sharper broadcast TV. My opinion is that this is correct, unless there is heavy weather in the area, then you may get something more like a tetris screen!
To learn more, here are Web sites that can explain the digital conversion and how to order the $40 coupons for converter boxes:(which will be filled only if the government allocates more money for it.)
www.DTV2009.gov/APPLYCOUPON.aspx
www. DTV.gov/consumercorner.html
www.fcc.gov
www.dtvanswers.com_converter.html
For recorded information call toll-free: 1-800-DTV-2009
