Government’s Top 5 biggest mistakes on the transition to DTV
There’s no doubt that the transition to digital television in Feb. 2009 is a monumentous and difficult task for the U.S. Government to tackle. With that in mind, we’ve decided to post a critique on the top 5 biggest government blunders with the digital transition and tv converter box coupon program.
5. dtv.com is not the government’s website.
When the government purchased websites for it’s coupon program (www.dtv2009.gov) and the FCC’s DTV info page (www.dtv.gov), they forgot to purchase THE most important domain name in which approximately 4,000 to 18,000 consumers mistakingly browse every month trying to find DTV information. dtv.com is owned by a company that markets satellite tv software for computers.
4. FCC sponsors a Nascar vehicle for 3 races
The FCC decided to sponsor a NASCAR vehicle (No. 38) with driver David Gilliland for a total of three races as part of its digital television outreach program for a total of $350,000, but not without criticism or mishap. During the course of the sponsorship, the No. 38 car crashed 2 times out of 3 events. In light of the sponsorship, taxpayer watchdog CAWG.org named FCC Federal Chairmen Kevin Martin as porker of the month for October, 2008.
3. TV Converter Box Coupon Program runs out of funds to mail coupons, almost
Adding more confusion to the Digital Transition, The NTIA (Government agency in charge of the coupon program) almost ran out of funds to deliver coupons to recipients. Before turning into a crisis, the NTIA made requests and was approved for more postage stamp funds.
2. Consumers with analog TVs need a converter box, AND a antenna
Some critics are placing blame on the U.S. Government for not focusing enough attention on reception of digital television signals, forcing some consumers to spend more money than just the cost of a converter box. A recent study by Centris group reported that up to six million people with Digital TV receivers may still be unable to watch TV in 2009. A WashingtonPost article highlights DTV reception issues for aparments or condos that share a “community antenna” (also known as a master antenna system). Costs to upgrade master antenna systems for DTV signals can run anywhere from $5,000-$15,000.
1. DTV Coupons are issued with a 90 day expiration
The #1 complaint at TVConversionhelp and DTV USA Forum, consumers are faced with challenges like lack of converter box supply, and of all things, a 90 day expiration printed (and enforced) on converter box coupons. The Government has not budged on it’s (2) coupons per household policy, so if you’ve applied, received, and let your coupons expire, you’re out of luck. Congressional leaders have made requests to allow for expired coupon holders to re-apply, however, there have been zero legislative changes to allow this to happen.
Honerable Mention
Is the dtv coupon program going to run out of funding before the scheduled ending of the program on 3/31/09? Current projections are showing that funds will dry up at the end of February, 2009.
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6 Responses to “Government’s Top 5 biggest mistakes on the transition to DTV”
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We have hooked up the box and we don’t have any signal is this common in a lot places or is it just our place. We understood if you got a box it would work. We have an antenna and also a booster on that and still get no signal.
I live about 15 miles from the towers and my reception freezes up alot. I have raised my
antena and added a booster and that did not
help.. Is the signal going to be boosted once
we loose antalog? I hope so . Who’s bright idea
was all this anyway ? My reception works about
like our wonderful goverment, pay them enough
and they will sign anything !!!
OK ON THE DTV
BUT I HAVE SEVERAL BATTERY OPERATED RADIOS THAT NOW PICK UP TV STATIONS (2-13) AND THIS IS VERY USEFUL DURING HURRICANES AND POWER OUTAGES IN FLA!!! WHAT DO I NEED TO GET THESE RADIOS TO RECIEVE THE DTV SIGNAL ” NO ONE HAS ANY ANSWERS!!!!” AND I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY DTV RADIOS OUT THERE AS YET
To Dick Deyo,
Your antenna may not be pointed in the right direction to pick up your location’s signals. Go to http://www.antennaweb.org, click on the Select an Antenna link, enter your zip code (as a minimum, address if you want more specifics) and it will tell you what kind of antenna you need and what direction you need to point it relative to your location. I followed this advice about 2 1/2 years ago when I bought my first converter box and I’ve had nothing but success tuning in the digital channels in the DC area.
To Danny Eldridge, you may be making your signal too strong by boosting it. If you live 15 miles away, you shouldn’t need any signal boosting. You may also want to check the antennaweb.org website and see if you have the right kind of antenna for your area and have it pointed in the right direction. If it freezes up, that usually means a) your antenna moved and lost signal lock or b) you are pushing too strong of a signal to your converter. I live roughly 30 miles away from my towers and I get nothing but rock solid images.
I recently purchased a dtv covertor box and I have trouble getting a clear signal from Ball State University PBS channel 49 and it is only 5 miles away. What will happen in June when NBC and CBS switch over and they are 60 miles away in Indianapolis? I have used rabbit ears for a long time and get 6 channels. 23, 29, 49, 59, nbc and cbs but believe when they switch over in June I will be stuck watching sesame street all the time on pbs. And the picture does not even take up the whole screen on pbs? I believe the government made a big mistake doing this and that someone is making a profit from saleing are airwaves.
We need to change the way we invest in new technology. Instead of paying for some high post company to investigate the feasibility of a particular new wave application we should pay a small amount to investigate the investigators and make sure everyone involved knows what the hell they are doing and check their competence before handing over blank checks. It seems as though there is a climate where in we have relied on our elected officials to make informed decision and they rely on slackers for advice.