Digital TV Switch Put on 4-Month Hold

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=6736239&page=1

all have a good un...............
SHERMANVILLE

 

[Farmercal]

Haven't they been talking about this chance for at least a year or so? Just how long do people need to get the simple box to make their old TVs work with the new system? I guess in four months they will extend it again for another four months to allow the procrastinators to keep procrastinating.

 

[Smee]

Haven't they been talking about this chance for at least a year or so? Just how long do people need to get the simple box to make their old TVs work with the new system? I guess in four months they will extend it again for another four months to allow the procrastinators to keep procrastinating.

What else can we expect? The same folks who turned their backs (BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE) while the economy went to hell in a handbasket are the ones overseeing this cluster of general screwups.

On the other hand, FORCING people to pay . . . and yes, some on a fixed income can't afford $10 or $20 to pay the difference . . . is like adding another TAX - but its only a problem paying for the little guy. Plus, many of the elderly folks I see in our store don't understand the entire matter regardless of how many times or how many ways you try to explain it to them. Add to that, the fact that in spite of the money spent to make everyone aware, some still don't know (I find it hard to believe, but I deal with the folks who come to our store and just want one of the "regular" televisions and there's lots of them who claim they didn't know) about the switch and the requirement to SPEND MORE MONEY to use something they already own, or that they can't buy another $300 27" portable TV to last the next 10 years.

It was handled like most government matters. By Bureaucrats . . .

 

[Farmercal]

True as it may be that some folks don't understand the whole thing...the same Bureaucrats handled the stimulus checks and everyone I know (yes some are in the country and not too aware of everything that goes on), managed to get their checks just fine. It might have taken a relative to help them fill out the forms (I helped my mother-in-law) but they have their money. Perhaps these folks could use a friend or relative to give them a hand with the switchover.

 

[Smee]

True as it may be that some folks don't understand the whole thing...the same Bureaucrats handled the stimulus checks and everyone I know (yes some are in the country and not too aware of everything that goes on), managed to get their checks just fine. It might have taken a relative to help them fill out the forms (I helped my mother-in-law) but they have their money. Perhaps these folks could use a friend or relative to give them a hand with the switchover.

This whole thing is a laugh. I know some folks here in the country who didn't get a check because they would not fill out a tax form showing they didn't earn enough to pay taxes. They believed the government would somehow use that information to cause them trouble . . . or even remove the benefits they were already eligible for.

Same with the DTV stuff. I know of one person who applied under an alias and had the coupon sent to another address (one of them "post office for hire" things that don't check ID when you get your box) under a phony name so they couldn't "keep tabs on him". Now he's scarred of the box because it -- according to him -- is sending a signal out too. Same guy asked me to turn off my GPS if I'm going to his house "cause it's talking to the government."

I guess I know too many paranoid people . . . who don't trust anyone who says: "I'm from the gubment en I'm har to hep you."

 

[seger98]

I don't really like watching digital TV anyway, it seems to be jerky movement, atleast on fast moving things. I'd rather it didn't switch over at all. Also the antenna has to be in the right place or it's a broken signal.