How come no one on RPF has been complaining about the TV converter coupons?

[torchbearer]

don't watch tv...

I use RPFs as one of my news aggregates.

 

[lucius]

I use RPFs as one of my news aggregates.

agree (+1)

 

[Thrashertm]

This is the greatest video on the subject so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcWWaWmFJjQ

Wow, this guy is awesome. I'm subscribing to his channel.

 

[misterx]

If I came on here and complained about every stupid thing the government does, I'd never get anything else done. Of course it's ridiculous to give away millions of dollars so that people can watch tv. They'd be better off without their televisions, but not from the government's point of view. Wouldn't want people to start thinking for themselves, and pay attention to what's going on around them.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Or maybe they have and I didn't notice. But the government is handing out $40 coupons to help people buy digital converter boxes.

Sure I will take the coupon, I don't begrudge anyone else on here taking it either. Otherwise we are just paying for everyone else to watch tv. Might as well get some of what the government stole from us back.

However if up to me nobody would get a coupon including myself. This is so patently ridiculous. I can understand the motivation at least and sympathize with wanting to feed people and shit, but TV?

Someone I mentioned it too said that "Well, alot of old people on SS watch TV and could not afford it.?"

So? This is my problem how?

What if an old person has a converter box but their tv breaks one day. Should we buy them a new goddamn TV?

Probably because I don't watch TV.

 

[Rael]

BINGO.

And in a certain sense, the government turning OFF the standard broadcasting is an arbitrary taking/seizure of "presumed" property rights by obsoleting of everyone's TV and other broadcast reception equipment (rendering it all virtually worthless w/o the adapters). Its a form of "eminent domain" that has been arbitrarily declared via legislation w/o proper due process of law (and I am certain that THAT is one of the main reasons they did the coupon program, else they would have faced a HOST of lawsuits -- which, BTW, could still happen).

And even with the coupons, there is still a loss of value from several standpoints:
1) the coupons do NOT cover the full cost of the boxes;
2) Many people (esp in rural areas) need to purchase more sensitive antennas (the digital signals do NOT carry as well as the old analog);
3) The converter box setup does NOT compensate for the loss of much of the functionality that was previously present in a lot of equipment (timed recording from multiple different channels, recording of one channel while watching another, etc).

It sounds like you are saying that 2 wrongs make a right...that it was wrong for the government to force the issue on digital conversion, but they are trying to make that right by redistributing income to compensate for it.

 

[satchelmcqueen]

The surprising thing is, to most people, is that the converter box will not necessary allow you to receive a digital signal. I've been trying to tell family, friends and co-workers this for about a year and a half now and they recently had a big article in the Houston Chronicle admitting this.

It's called the "cliff effect". You will either get a perfect digital signal or you won't get anything. No in between. It's all about strength of signal reception. If you are city or urban you will probably not have a problem, depending on other obstructions which might block the signal. But for rural people, being able to pick up the signal is iffy. The solution will be to purchase an antenna and possibly hire a technician.

The thing is, most people won't know this until their TV goes black, and then they probably won't know what the problem is.

true. ive had my antenna up since 2005 and as of right now, i can get 20 plus analog channels and 2-3 digital channels. after the cuttoff, all of those "OK" looking channels will not be there. on the 2-3 that i can get or not get depending on cloud cover and more so the outside temp.

people like me who live away from the city where the brodcast towers are, will either get perfect looking channels, or none at all.

analog = snowy-ehh-pretty clear-perfect , but can watch anyhow

digital = nothing- or got it.

 

[jpwilhelm]

I just want to know who the hell does not have cable are dtv in this day in age, I don't know one person. If you have that you don't need a converter. Even my family in the middle of nowhere in WI has a dish.

Last I remember watching TV with rabbit ears I think I was watching dukes of hazzard on primetime. I also had a pair of needle nose to cange the channel.

 

[satchelmcqueen]

I just want to know who the hell does not have cable are dtv in this day in age, I don't know one person. If you have that you don't need a converter. Even my family in the middle of no where in WI has a dish.

Last I remember watching TV with rabit ears I think I was watching dukes of hazzard on primetime. I also had a pair of needle nose to cange the channel.

changing channels with needle nose pliers was how i got electrocuted for the first time in my life, lol!

i didnt know what was happening as i was only 5 or so, i just remember thinking that all of a sudden i hurt and everything looked wavy.


i have the antenna up just because i want to drop dish network as soon as i can convince my wife we need the money more than the dish.

i will miss watching stuff on the not so perfect analog channels.

cant imagine some of the stuff i grew up watching being crystal clear now. just wouldnt seem the same.

 

[AdamT]

We don't have TV here, I barely even knew this was going on. The "vouchers" are a joke. Government taking money from the sheep to make sure the sheep stay sheep. Simple as that.

 

[Josh_LA]

It sounds like you are saying that 2 wrongs make a right...that it was wrong for the government to force the issue on digital conversion, but they are trying to make that right by redistributing income to compensate for it.

yes, that's what i would say.

this is not even counting the fact that the government never had to allow tvs to exist in the first place, or radios, cellphones, internet. they can, in a heartbeat, ban it all, so they don't owe anybody this means of communication, it's not their job, but since they see a benefit in letting people watch TV, they do their best to facilitate it.

BUT, if that were the goal, they can do much better, they can make it illegal to sell converter boxes and monopolize it to themselves, which would quickly mean 100M Americans have to pay the government $50 for a box they can't get elsewhere, which is a $5B profit for the government right there.

the same thing can be done for things they DO monopolize on, USPS, passport services, air travel taxes, so to say the government doesn't have money is ABSURD (they're just not trying).