Radio All Digital Receiver Act

[NHRadio]

As to people who struggle to heat their homes, since when did Americans become entitled to TV reception? After the $40 government coupon there are plenty of boxes available at big box stores for under $30, some under 20. A small investment indeed, and far less than the $80-120 you claim. Bad enough taxpayer money pays for the coupons but all this "what about the poor?" whining smacks of misinformation and Chicken Little syndrome.
Secondly, HD TV is NOT being forced on anyone. Digital TV is...which can come in both SD (standard definition) or HD. In case of an HD signal the box will downconvert it to standard def for viewing on an analog set.
Compared to the price of a TV set (which is in almost all homes, including low income ones) $20 is pretty doable.
Please get your facts straight before the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth.

Not to mention the HD television that they have already forced on the nation! What of the low-income families who will be struggling to heat their homes this winter? Now you are telling them they have to shell out $80-$120 (is that how much they cost?) for a converter just so that they can continue to watch the 5'oclock news on Channel 7.

 

[HoodFiga]

As to people who struggle to heat their homes, since when did Americans become entitled to TV reception? After the $40 government coupon there are plenty of boxes available at big box stores for under $30, some under 20. A small investment indeed, and far less than the $80-120 you claim. Bad enough taxpayer money pays for the coupons but all this "what about the poor?" whining smacks of misinformation and Chicken Little syndrome.
Secondly, HD TV is NOT being forced on anyone. Digital TV is...which can come in both SD (standard definition) or HD. In case of an HD signal the box will downconvert it to standard def for viewing on an analog set.
Compared to the price of a TV set (which is in almost all homes, including low income ones) $20 is pretty doable.
Please get your facts straight before the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth.

Not to mention the HD television that they have already forced on the nation! What of the low-income families who will be struggling to heat their homes this winter? Now you are telling them they have to shell out $80-$120 (is that how much they cost?) for a converter just so that they can continue to watch the 5'oclock news on Channel 7.

It seems like you are trying to make the age ole argument that the poor is only entitled to be disenfranchised while the rich is the only entitled class solely based on income status. The fact is that digital TV is a natural progression from analog TV in the same way the automobile was a natural progression from the horse and buggy. It sounds like if you had your way, the poor would still be riding a donkey and the rich would be driving cars. So, apart from the fact that a 100% digital system simply makes better sense and eliminate allot of inefficiencies in the current system. Its also a much more profitable medium to do business in for companies in the broadcast business, So, the whole class warfare argument just doesn’t make much sense to be totally honest. Its also ironic that you would be hear crying about consumers getting a coupon worth $40 bucks from the government while wall streets is about to get check worth $850 billion. Nice!

 

[NHRadio]

Hood, I never mentioned class. You did. Pointing an obvious fact such as there are TV's in most all low-income homes doesn't mean anything else but what I said, your knee-jerk PC whinging not withstanding.
Your comment about the poor are entitled to be disenfranchised was downright ridiculous. Don't read anything into what I posted except what's there. Remember there is no "right to watch TV" anywhere in US law, despite that's how many people seem to feel.
There are lots of struggling Americans. A $20 (after coupon) box is a small price to pay to watch TV, even for them.

 

[radiorama1]

As to people who struggle to heat their homes, since when did Americans become entitled to TV reception? After the $40 government coupon there are plenty of boxes available at big box stores for under $30, some under 20. A small investment indeed, and far less than the $80-120 you claim. Bad enough taxpayer money pays for the coupons but all this "what about the poor?" whining smacks of misinformation and Chicken Little syndrome.
Secondly, HD TV is NOT being forced on anyone. Digital TV is...which can come in both SD (standard definition) or HD. In case of an HD signal the box will downconvert it to standard def for viewing on an analog set.
Compared to the price of a TV set (which is in almost all homes, including low income ones) $20 is pretty doable.
Please get your facts straight before the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth.

Not to mention the HD television that they have already forced on the nation! What of the low-income families who will be struggling to heat their homes this winter? Now you are telling them they have to shell out $80-$120 (is that how much they cost?) for a converter just so that they can continue to watch the 5'oclock news on Channel 7.

NHRadio, I don't care if the converters cost 00.2 cents. The point I was trying to make is that you are making the poor and needy pay extra to get the same exact thing that they were getting before. So it only costs $20 bucks, eh? Well I'm sure that the poor guy working 60,70,80 + hrs a week trying to make ends meet (otherwise known as today's "lower middle-class") would love to be able to take that $20 and use it toward groceries for his family, or even to put it in his gas tank, so that he can DRIVE to the market to get those groceries.

As to people who struggle to heat their homes, since when did Americans become entitled to TV reception?

I didn't say that they were entitled, however it would be nice to be able to turn on the news for potential LIFE-SAVING INFORMATION in the event of, god forbid, another 9/11, or some other catastrophe... the "airwaves" supposedly belong to the people, do they not?

So before you park your gas-guzzling S.U.V. in your heated two-car garage tonight, please remember that there are those less fortunate.

 

[radiorama1]

Oh, and also...

Bad enough taxpayer money pays for the coupons...

You just made my point! Instead of meddling with all this HD television and radio nonsense, why can't our tax-dollars (yours AND mine) go towards SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT?!?!?!? ???

 

[NHRadio]

IIRC, the government will (or maybe has already) auction off some of this vacated spectrum for billions of dollars. That's why this is happening, to raise money...which throws your whole complaint about diverting taxpayer money out the window. Read more at http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/1526083.php? or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/700_MHz_wireless_spectrum_auction

By the way, I have neither an SUV or a 2 car garage.

Oh, and also...

Bad enough taxpayer money pays for the coupons...

You just made my point! Instead of meddling with all this HD television and radio nonsense, why can't our tax-dollars (yours AND mine) go towards SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT?!?!?!? ???