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FCC citing stores for not disclosing analog TV cutoff

jal41

jal41

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-278246A1.html
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-277883A1.html

Various rent-to-own stores cited (not yet fined) by the FCC because the required disclaimer was not posted on just one model of DVD Recorder in each store.

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2007/DA-07-4270A1.html

Turns out RadioShack and others were fined for not disclosing.

Sounds like they are going to get tough on this. Maybe people will start going by Best Buy and Wal-Mart stores and report them to the FCC if the notification is missing from just one model.

It seems to me all you have to do is go into the store...take down the sign...take a photograph...send it to the FCC...and instant citation.
 
Most of the Wal Marts in my area are in good shape because they've eliminated most or all of the analog sets. In fact, they have warning cards on some sets that are actually digital and don't need them. ???
 
I recently read that Best Buy (who got fined early on) eliminated Analog-only TVs and associated devices back in October.

Where they've gone - no telling - but I'm guessing north or south of the border...

Jim
 
Jim said:
Where they've gone - no telling - but I'm guessing north or south of the border...
Click to expand...

Though no doubt Canada will have similar plans for what to do with analog sets when stations there go all-digital in 2011, just two years after the US.
 
Jim said:
I recently read that Best Buy (who got fined early on) eliminated Analog-only TVs and associated devices back in October.

Where they've gone - no telling - but I'm guessing north or south of the border...
Click to expand...

I doubt that their plan was that sinister. Best Buy probably just stopped ordering the analog models of whatever TVs they were selling and then announced their plan to drop them when the supplies internally finally got low enough.
 
I think the crackdown has had an effect. Stores that used to not have everything properly labeled are now even taping a warning label to affected products.

However - one complaint. While all the new TVs are "digital" in that they will receive DTV OTA, it seems that not all of them will receive Clear QAM digital via cable TV. Or, if they do - it's not being clearly disclosed.
 
anotherguy said:
Most of the Wal Marts in my area are in good shape because they've eliminated most or all of the analog sets. In fact, they have warning cards on some sets that are actually digital and don't need them. ???
Click to expand...

I work at a Wal-Mart. Every TV that we sell, whether it's a traditional CRT tube, LCD SDTV or LCD HDTV, all have digital tuners included in them. I believe that was due to an FCC mandate that every TV made for the US market after February 2007 required one.

Yes, we had those little photocopied cards to tell the customers about a DVD recorder or DVD/VCR combo not offering a digital tuner. In fact, a Magnavox DVD recorder we sell just dropped to about $49 recently (I bought the same one a year ago for about $100 pre-discount). The digital model next to it still goes for about $144, since we haven't dropped that price...yet.

What really grinds my gears are the newer style DVD recorders which don't have their own internal tuners. I've already had a customer or two who balked when they found that out. What about those (like me) who only have expanded basic and don't use a cable converter? My Sanyo 26" LCD HDTV has a QAM tuner and still gets 5 locals in digital with HD when available...6 if you count the cable-only feed of Connecticut Public Television [CPTV].
 
Fred's (Not Fred Meyer), which is a chain of discount stores in the South, just opened a new store where I live, and they carry a lot of refurbished major brand TVs, VCRs, and DVD players. There was a digital TV set that was advertised for the grand opening, but most of the other sets appeared to be analog but had no warning card. It looks like they could be headed for trouble.
 
Were they analog televisions? Probably not. Digital televisions don't need a warning card.
 
dhett said:
Were they analog televisions? Probably not. Digital televisions don't need a warning card.
Click to expand...


yes wal-mart no longer sells analog tvs. only analog dvd/vcr combos.
 
I went to Sears today, nothing was marked and the boxes didn't say anything about a tuner. Usually the vcr/dvd combs say ATSC tuner. The salesmen (all about 17 years old) hadn't a clue and were screwing up everything, like (Oh this DVD will upconvert your DVDs in High Def)
 
I actually remember seeing warning cards on those Disney TV sets that they have for little kids. The ones with the Mickey ears on them, and I think there was a Winnie the Pooh set. Even THOSE had the warning cards on them. I wonder if they'll make updated models of those.
 
I wonder what happened to all the VCR/DVD combos with NTSC tuners? I thought I'd see the stores selling them (with card) on the cheap. The thing is Chicago, where I live has a great library full of old movies on VHS that are free to rent. I love the old movies from the 40s and 50s. So I hate to give up my VCR, but I need a new one but I want one that'll record. I could care less about the quality.

I wonder what they did with the old NTSC VCR/DVD combos

Hmm?
 
ssetta said:
I actually remember seeing warning cards on those Disney TV sets that they have for little kids. The ones with the Mickey ears on them, and I think there was a Winnie the Pooh set. Even THOSE had the warning cards on them. I wonder if they'll make updated models of those.
Click to expand...

I've seen Disney Princess and Cars TVs that are digital at K Mart.

Mark said:
I wonder what happened to all the VCR/DVD combos with NTSC tuners? I thought I'd see the stores selling them (with card) on the cheap. The thing is Chicago, where I live has a great library full of old movies on VHS that are free to rent. I love the old movies from the 40s and 50s. So I hate to give up my VCR, but I need a new one but I want one that'll record. I could care less about the quality.

I wonder what they did with the old NTSC VCR/DVD combos

Hmm?
Click to expand...

Wal Mart has totally removed the analog VCR/DVD combos. Everything either has a digital tuner or line inputs only. Like I said earlier Fred's in the South still has analog TVs and VCR/DVD combos, with no warning labels at the present time. I think stores like them or Big Lots will be where most analog equipment will end up. They'll probably end up selling them to people who don't know about the changeover and won't put the warning cards up until they get in trouble with the FCC.
 
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