All Converter Boxes Are Not Created Equal
There are many different options available to consumers when shopping for dtv converter boxes. By now, everyone has seen the annoying commercials on TV about the importance of applying to the government coupon program and buying a new converter box for the digital transition, but the whole process can be rather confusing. Some retail stores have a limited amount of dtv boxes and varieties available in stock, causing some consumers to let their coupons expire, or forcing them to purchase whatever is available in the store. Note: If your dtv coupons expire, the government will not let you re-apply (At this time).
Before your purchase, it might be worth your time to check out the following converter box reviews website, to compare the different models and find one that best suits your needs. You can then do an online search for your local store and see if they carry the model you want, and if it is listed in the NTIA approved coupon program.
Consumer reports also has some great unbiased resources for comparing different converter box models on their website Consumer Reports Converter Box Reviews, based on the following categories; Picture quality, Program Guides, Configurable closed captioning, universal remote control, aspect ratio button on remote, auto aspect ratio, ease of adding new channels, analog-pass through options, control buttons on the box itself and even the if an audio video cable is included. More information about these various options and their ratings are included on their guide-to-the-ratings page. Also, check out the Consumer Reports article on these new boxes at Consumer Reports DTV blog.
-written by acwriter
Ref: www.consumerreports.org/electronics
Congress working on DTV measures to ease Digital Transition
The SAFER Act (Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act), recently approved by the Senate, allows for up to a 30 day grace period after the February 17, 2009 deadline for the Analog Cut-off to give consumers a little more time to prepare for the DTV conversion. While the Bush administration and the FCC fully support this much needed bill, the House of Representatives will not be able to vote on it until December 8, 2008. House Representative, Lois Capps, will be introducing a similar bill to the House to vote on when the House of Representatives reconvenes.
Senator Jay Rockefeller, soon to be the Senate Commerce Committee Chairman in January 2009, gave an amazing and detailed speech to plead for more time on behalf of American’s citizens. He reiterated the need for further and more aggressive education to America’s citizens. Senator Rockefeller as well as many others are concerned about the citizens who are housebound, disabled or elderly and those who might have a language barrier. Hopefully, these extra thirty days will give consumers and the agencies involved more time to prepare.
Meredith Attwell Baker, the head of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration gave a speech Thursday at the Media Institute. She gave her support for this bill and recommended a nationwide soft analog cut-off test at least a month before the February DTV transition deadline. Many areas have been running localized testing by shutting off analog signals to check on the readiness of their viewers for this transition. But, the NTIA feels that a nationwide test could be beneficial to see where we stand as a nation before the actual cut-off date.
Full details of the bill:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act’.
SEC. 2. COMMISSION ACTION REQUIRED.
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Communications Commission shall, not later than January 15, 2009, develop and implement a program to encourage and permit, to the extent technically feasible, the continued broadcasting in the analog television service of the public safety information and digital transition information specified in subsection (b) during the 30-day period beginning February 18, 2009, subject to such limitations as the Commission finds to be consistent with the public interest and the requirements of this Act.
(b) INFORMATION REQUIRED- The program required by subsection (a) shall provide for the broadcast of–
(1) emergency information, including critical details regarding the emergency, as carried or required to be carried by full-power stations in the digital television service;
(2) information, in both English and Spanish, and accessible to persons with disabilities, concerning–
(A) the digital television transition, including the fact that a transition has taken place and that additional action is required to continue receiving television service, including emergency notifications; and
(B) the steps required to enable viewers to receive such emergency information via the digital television service and to convert to receiving digital television service, including a phone number and Internet address by which help with such transition may be obtained in both English and Spanish; and
(3) such other information as the Commission may find to be consistent with the public interest.
-Written by acwriter
Ref: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/
DTV Presentation To Be Held At GVT Expo 2008
If you are involved in the audio visual electronic industry, an avid Home Theater enthusiast, or even a fan of entertainment electronics in general, you will not want to miss the Government Video Technology Expo 2008. This year the expo will be held December 2-4 at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. There will be a very detailed exhibit from the the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History as well as over 200 other displays. The Smithsonian will be featuring one of its’ newest and technological advanced achievements; The AV intensive Sant Ocean Hall a modern museum experience. This awe inspiring exhibit hall in the museum was a joint effort between the Smithsonian and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Project manager Elizabeth Musteen will be giving a detailed look into how this amazing technology works.
In additional to these national audio visual related exhibits, the Federal Communication Commission will also be making a presentation on DTV. FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein will be speaking about the upcoming analog to digital transition that will change the way we watch television. He will be reiterating the benefits of this major transition. The upcoming deadline for purchasing your converter boxes and digital antennas is less than 100 days away, only six weeks after Christmas on February 17, 2009. The FCC has been on a National Tour to inform consumers of the upcoming DTV conversion.
-Written by acwriter
Ref: Wallstreet Journal Market Watch Article
List of Most Unprepared cities for DTV Transition in U.S.
As reported by WAPT.com, Neilsen Media Ratings released a list of the most unprepared cities for the transition to digital television on February 17th, 2009. The list is organized by rank in accordance to percentage of households not ready.
Least prepared cities:
1. Houston – 15.8 percent
2. Dallas / Ft. Worth – 14.3 percent
3. Tulsa, Okla. – 14.1 percent
4. Salt Lake City, Utah – 13.4 percent
5. Milwaukee, Wis. – 13.3 percent
6. Albuquerque, N.M. – 12.7 percent
7. Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minn. – 12 percent
8. Austin, Texas – 11.6 percent
9. Los Angeles – 11.6 percent
10. Memphis, Tenn. – 11.6 percent
Why are we “Upgrading” to DTV?
Why upgrade to DTV? Why fix something that isn’t broke?
We’ve have been told that the analog air waves after the transition to digital television will be used for public safety usage and advance wireless services. The need to free up air signals for emergency public service communication usage is completely understandable. We all want our fire, police and ambulance services to be able to communicate to each other quickly. But, that isn’t the only reason for the conversion to DTV.
How does free wi-fi service or the ability to surf the internet at lower prices sound? At the current time, pricing for unlimited mobile internet run between $45 - $60 a month depending on the carrier and service. After the FCC begins auctioning off the old analog air space, consumers should begin to receive benefits from Wirless Carriers that offer services using the old television sigal airwaves. While lower priced internet access is a very possible scenario, another convenience is in the works.
Some stations have already shut off their analog signals in order for Qualcomm to expedite the rollout of MediaFLO, a multichannel mobile TV product. Apparently, part of the reason we are giving up free analog television is so that those who can afford it will be able to watch television shows on their cell phones. Both ATT Wireless with 61 million and Verizon Wireless with 57 million customers have contracted with Qualcomm’s MediaFLO USA to provide Mobile TV. While this may be a desired convenience for many, there are even more consumers that will not require mobile TV, but would just be happy with their old standby regular television shows.
Millions of households and their televisions will no longer be able to receive signals after the conversion. Some consumers insist on waiting out the transition to see if it just blows over. Begin learning today about DTV to make sure your television will continue to receive over-the-air signals after the digital transition on February 17th, 2009.
-written by acwriter
Ref: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6417216.html
DTV Transition Top Priority For Obama Administration
The Government Accounting Office, National Telecommunications Information Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission all agree that the upcoming Digital Transition will have to be a top priority for President Elect Barack Obama and his administration. The new president will barely have time to be sworn into office before the realization of the DTV conversion will be at his doorstep on February 17, 2009. The National Association of Broadcasters chief of operations David Rehr sent President Elect Obama a letter reiterating cooperation needed for a smooth transition.
John Podesta the co-chairman of the Obama Transition team has been quoted saying “that the administration is aware that the DTV transition will be an early challenge and we need to be ready and prepared for that”. With Bill Kennard the Former FCC Chairman, being appointed as Obama’s communications advisor, citizens should not be concerned that the upcoming transition will not be an immediate concern of the upcoming administration.
Many stations have already begun shutting down their analog signals in preparation for the February deadline. The FCC has given permission for some stations to convert over to digital due to colder climates. However, November 21, 2008 any station may shut off their analog signal completely. They may do so only after giving adequate notice to the consumers in the affected areas. Hopefully, with many stations already converting over to digital broadcasting from analog only broadcast signals, the new administration will not have a communications disaster on their hands when they walk into the doors of the White House.
written by acwriter
ref: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6613776.html, http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6612391.html?rssid=211
Less than 100 days left until DTV Day
The transition to digital television is now less than 100 days away. Have you converted your analog television set for dtv yet? If not, you may not be able to receive television signals after February 17th, 2009. Visit the FCC’s DTV Webpage to learn more about digital television today.
Are you waiting to fill out the application for the $40 dtv converter box coupon? The government has scheduled the last day to apply for the coupon on March 31st, 2009.
Are you waiting to choose a converter box? Here are some links to digital-to-analog converter box reviews…
DTV USA Forum Converter Box Reviews, Ratings, and Specific Questions
Consumer Reports Digital TV converter boxes: First Look
More Training and Advertising Needed For DTV Transition
The early DTV Conversion Test in Wilmington, North Carolina this past September which required consumers in that area to convert their analog televisions earlier than the scheduled dtv transition, proved to be successful, but also showed where some areas of improvement could be made.
As a result, Time Warner Cable and the Federal Communications Commission have determined that more training and advertising is needed for the upcoming transition to digital television on February 17, 2009. Following the testing in Wilmington, their offices were flooded with calls from consumers who were not ready despite heavy advertising. Insight Communications will be hitting mailboxes heavily of consumers with information regarding the transitions, thanks to demographics provided by CTAM and Prism.
Kim Cannon of Time Warner said “You can’t over communicate the message of the digital television transition”. In addition to television advertising, local events and other avenues of advertising; Cannon recommends utilizing fairs and festivals to reach consumers that may not be aware of the upcoming conversion. She also mentions that during a mystery call campaign to consumers, that customer service representatives were under trained for the questions they would be receiving. Cannon recommends better training for CSR in order to better educate consumers regarding any questions they may have.
Both Insight Communications and Time Warner Cable are using this opportunity in advertising about the Digital Conversion to offer an alternative to consumers. Instead of purchasing a converter box for each television, consumers are being asked to consider subscribing to a service at a discounted rate. These aren’t the only companies offering discounted packages to new customers. Many cable and satellite providers are offering great deals to consumers, as opposed to installing digital antennas and converter boxes. Taking the easy way out, consumers may not realize just how much a subscription is going to cost them over the long run compared to getting a new box with the government coupon program being offered. Many consumers feel they don’t have a choice, as they don’t have anyone to help them set up the converter box or digital antenna.
-Written by acwriter
Reference: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6612892.html
