by Peter Johns

Created on: December 02, 2008   Last Updated: April 05, 2010

 

WHY THE CONVERSION? According to a government site, "An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband)." You can read the rest of it at

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq2

POOR IMPLEMENTATION I understand the benefits of the new system. The way in which the transition is being implemented however leaves a lot to be desired at best. I don't know about you, but I don't like the way in which this whole process is being conducted. Usually we all decide what's best for the country. In this case we all just have to do it or lose it; we have to do it, or else. The government will supposedly be giving coupons to help people switch, but we still will have to pay a minimum of $10.00. Since we don't have a choice in the matter, the government should cover all the expenses; and frankly it's patronizing to get handouts in order to be able to afford to be forced to switch. The government is supposed to work for us, not patronize us. They seem to have forgotten that the people are their boss.

THERE'S NO CHOICE Sure, if you've purchased a TV after 2007 you're probably OK, but for those countless viewers who haven't, and don't have access to cable or satellite and currently rely on an analog antenna to get channels; they'll have no picture if they don't make the switch (thankfully analog radio isn't going anywhere). And a friend I just spoke to, who has made the switch, told me that 20% of the time he doesn't even get a picture at all, so it's not like we're moving to a flawless system. The motto supposedly is "no viewer left behind," but it actually is "Don't lag behind, or else!"

WHY TRANSITION THIS WAY? The real question is, why is this whole process being forced like this? Why not simply rely on traditional avenues of business and marketing to phase this not-so-perfect product into our living rooms? The media has hyped this event more than any event in recent history - save for perhaps 911.

WHY SUCH HYPE? What's the big deal? So what if we're switching to digital in February? Why do they keep blasting these dramatic commercials about the big bad switch as if the apocolypse is about to occur? So I might miss one or two episodes of some

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