DTV delay is ridiculous
So, the Senate has approved a delay of the DTV transition until June. What I’d like to know is, why? I understand their rationale. Too many people are unprepared for the transition, the coupons that would save consumers $40 on their converter boxes are about to expire, they’ve run out of coupons and there isn’t any money to print more, blah, blah, blah. What I don’t understand is why the Senate cares. The word has been out for three years about the transition. And the message couldn’t have been clearer: if you’re getting your TV signal from a cable or satellite provider, you’re fine; otherwise, you need a converter box if you have an analog TV. What is so hard to understand about that? The procrastinators shouldn’t be allowed to muck this up. Think about this in terms of a railway. The timetable lets you know when the train will depart, and it’s up to you to be on the platform. If you’re not—for whatever reason—the train leaves without you. It should work that way regarding the DTV transition. If people were asleep at the switch, so to speak, they can read a book until they can get their precious TV back (it would probably do them some good). Regarding the coupon-related problems, there are two simple fixes: (1) suspend the expiration date for those that already are in circulation; and tell those who can’t get their hands on a coupon right now to buy a box and keep their receipt, which they can mail in later for a refund (the money they would save on printing more coupons could be applied to the reimbursement costs). Too many important initiatives—including those related to public-safety communications—depend on this transition. It needs to move forward, without delay. Does anyone really think a four-month delay is going to make that much of a difference anyway?
