DTV: A Government Mandated Scam?
May 10th 2009 19:23
For those of you who are frustrated with this 'mandated' transfer to DTV, here are some things to think about, before rushing out to comply. The mandate says that if you want to watch TV, you'll have to get a converter box, or buy a new TV, but! It doesn't say that you have to keep watching TV.
Let's go over the pro's and con's of the DTV switch, and see if its worth it anymore:
U]Pro's:[
*New Better Picture
*The Emergency services will recieve a little bit better transmission signal (to use for what?)
*Freeing up Analog air space will lead way to new inventions and discoveries for wireless inventors
*The Government will recieve a huge Pay Check, that you get none of.
Con's:[
*If you got a crappy analog signal before, you won't get a digital signal at all. Which means no more TV for many anyways.
*You may have to spend 100's of wasted dollars before you find out you can't recieve free DTV
*The government has issued $40 vouchers, yet most converter boxes available are $60 or more
*The government along with many companies are being sued by a company who patented the converter box, and since those companies stole the idea without paying the bill, consumers will have to pay for the royalties the patent company didn't get. That means You will have to pay a monthly amount to cover their dishonesty from cheating the company that patented the coverter box.
*Most coverter boxes will not work with your older TV right away, and you will have to spend many frustrated hours trying to get it to work properly. Making annoying phone calls to the broadcasting companies in your area, and getting nothing done. Until you finally break down and pay a high fee to have someone come out and fix it for you.
*Most consumers will still need an Antenna, even after they buy a converter box. Know what that means? Thats right, you will have to buy another accessory! And there is no coupon for digital antenna's. They aren't cheap yet either.
*Even the technologically challenged viewer will have to learn real fast, if they don't want to be left in the dust. The government has got every analog station advertising that they have to make the switch coming in June, and that they have a website with information and answers, but yet, if you don't surf the net, how will you find out? Go ahead and try to call and ask over the phone, they will direct you to the internet!
Obviously there are way more con's to this DTV switch than the broadcasters and government want you to realize. They haven't 'hidden' them exactly, but they make sure to try and tone down the facts and make it look better than it is.
If the consumers wanted to have a better picture and get cheated out of money, they would have gone out and spent the couple thousand dollars on a new TV. Many of them have, and can afford the new equipment. Yet, there is still a large population of the US, that have not made the switch.
This has official baffled. They don't seem to understand, "I can't afford it." or "I don't need it."
Most of the people who have not made the transition, have not done so due to lack of funds. With the converter boxes costing $60 and up, and the government being out of $40 coupons, those who are lower income, can't even begin to justify spending the money that puts food on their table, into a DTV Converter box, antenna and anything else they might have to buy. It seems that heat in the homes, food in the kitchen, and running water are more important to them. Hmmm..... Wonder why that is?
Obviously those who are low income or 'senior', are understandable, when it comes to not wasting their money. Even though they could be benefiting from a great picture. People seem to give low income families the pity card and saying, "O well, guess you won't be watching TV!"
What baffles officials even more, is a large part of the population who has not switched to DTV, do not seem to be ignorant to the change, as was the previous theory. No! The american people are not as stupid as you think they are! There are plenty of people out there who either, A: Don't Watch TV much anyways, because they have better things to do. Or, B: They realize they are being cheated out of a lot by the government and FCC.
I found it very sad, while doing my research about DTV, to find that apparently the FCC made a large deal with companies all over the us, to be able to 'buy' the free'd up Analog signal space. Whats that? You mean this stuff about the Emergency Services badly needing our Analog signal is BS?
What really happened is that the FCC realized that with new Digital TV, the broadcasting companies could put out 3 or 4 channels, instead of just one (which is why cable TV has so many annoying double channels with the same crap on it.). The analog airspace consumers are giving up is stronger, not blocked by walls, and doesn't lose its picture when an air plane fly overhead. Which is part of why they want to be able to use it for cell phones, wireless devices and other adventurous inventions.
Its all well and good to move on and be productive with technology, but what really gets my goat, is that they have the nerve to do it, just purely so that they could sell off the old analog airspace. They auctioned off all the old analog airspace last year, to the highest bidders, but are making them wait to use the airwaves, until the consumers switch to DTV.
Of course, our gratification greed based society has to make sure no one gets anything for free, that would be awful.
If its not bad enough that they made all that money from the old analog air wave space, and didn't share any of it with consumers, there is also not a single shred of proof that any of the revenue earned will be put towards issues consumers are actually concerned about, or truly need. Most likely, it will go into the pockets of those loft CEO's who managed to get the government backing.
What's more, is that the poor saps who bought the analog air space are being put on hold while the FCC figures out why people are so unhappy.
First, even the safest drivers in the world have to buy insurance, then we can't make the choice to wear our own seat belts, cigarette smoking will soon be outlawed, schools are forceably being shut down, and now we are no longer going to be able to get 'free' TV. What are they going to take away next?
TV has been free for more than 30 years, yet for some reason they decide that its long enough, and they want to squeeze every last penny out of viewers.
As one person said, "The consumers would never pay a sent if the government didn't make them."
What does that say about our government?
I could have sworn that Americans upheld freedom, expression and equality. Why is it that suddenly we are all idiots who have to be controlled into spending money, because we don't know what it good or bad?
It won't be long until they start taking away more rights, they have already taken many.
Are you frustrated with all of this? You are not alone.
Before you make your final decision about DTV and the mandated switch, think about this:
Is TV really worth it anymore? With infomercials abroad, bad news all over, and children taking in information and habits they shouldn't be exposed to, it just doesn't seem like its worth the hassel.
Even with the new 'parental controls', many shows that are entirely inappropriate for youngsters, are still marked G, PG or PG13. Meaning that younger kids are being able to watch shows geared towards an older audience. And with most kids being allowed to have a TV in their rooms, it becomes impossible to monitor them all the time.
Not only that, but many in this time of 'Green' changes, many have realized what a waste TV has become. There are so many better things to be doing. Exercising, creating, enjoying life. Even the internet is better for your brain then TV. And if you must really turn your brain to mush, www.Hulu.com has done a very good job of making it available to you online.
Something smells very fishy with this DTV switch, and I for one and doing the green thing, by turning of one more useless appliance. The 3 TV is this home are only used to watch DVD's or VHS (and tapes are cheap cheap these days!)
What will you do?
Let's go over the pro's and con's of the DTV switch, and see if its worth it anymore:
U]Pro's:[
*New Better Picture
*The Emergency services will recieve a little bit better transmission signal (to use for what?)
*Freeing up Analog air space will lead way to new inventions and discoveries for wireless inventors
*The Government will recieve a huge Pay Check, that you get none of.
Con's:[
*If you got a crappy analog signal before, you won't get a digital signal at all. Which means no more TV for many anyways.
*You may have to spend 100's of wasted dollars before you find out you can't recieve free DTV
*The government has issued $40 vouchers, yet most converter boxes available are $60 or more
*The government along with many companies are being sued by a company who patented the converter box, and since those companies stole the idea without paying the bill, consumers will have to pay for the royalties the patent company didn't get. That means You will have to pay a monthly amount to cover their dishonesty from cheating the company that patented the coverter box.
*Most coverter boxes will not work with your older TV right away, and you will have to spend many frustrated hours trying to get it to work properly. Making annoying phone calls to the broadcasting companies in your area, and getting nothing done. Until you finally break down and pay a high fee to have someone come out and fix it for you.
*Most consumers will still need an Antenna, even after they buy a converter box. Know what that means? Thats right, you will have to buy another accessory! And there is no coupon for digital antenna's. They aren't cheap yet either.
*Even the technologically challenged viewer will have to learn real fast, if they don't want to be left in the dust. The government has got every analog station advertising that they have to make the switch coming in June, and that they have a website with information and answers, but yet, if you don't surf the net, how will you find out? Go ahead and try to call and ask over the phone, they will direct you to the internet!
Obviously there are way more con's to this DTV switch than the broadcasters and government want you to realize. They haven't 'hidden' them exactly, but they make sure to try and tone down the facts and make it look better than it is.
If the consumers wanted to have a better picture and get cheated out of money, they would have gone out and spent the couple thousand dollars on a new TV. Many of them have, and can afford the new equipment. Yet, there is still a large population of the US, that have not made the switch.
This has official baffled. They don't seem to understand, "I can't afford it." or "I don't need it."
Most of the people who have not made the transition, have not done so due to lack of funds. With the converter boxes costing $60 and up, and the government being out of $40 coupons, those who are lower income, can't even begin to justify spending the money that puts food on their table, into a DTV Converter box, antenna and anything else they might have to buy. It seems that heat in the homes, food in the kitchen, and running water are more important to them. Hmmm..... Wonder why that is?
Obviously those who are low income or 'senior', are understandable, when it comes to not wasting their money. Even though they could be benefiting from a great picture. People seem to give low income families the pity card and saying, "O well, guess you won't be watching TV!"
What baffles officials even more, is a large part of the population who has not switched to DTV, do not seem to be ignorant to the change, as was the previous theory. No! The american people are not as stupid as you think they are! There are plenty of people out there who either, A: Don't Watch TV much anyways, because they have better things to do. Or, B: They realize they are being cheated out of a lot by the government and FCC.
I found it very sad, while doing my research about DTV, to find that apparently the FCC made a large deal with companies all over the us, to be able to 'buy' the free'd up Analog signal space. Whats that? You mean this stuff about the Emergency Services badly needing our Analog signal is BS?
What really happened is that the FCC realized that with new Digital TV, the broadcasting companies could put out 3 or 4 channels, instead of just one (which is why cable TV has so many annoying double channels with the same crap on it.). The analog airspace consumers are giving up is stronger, not blocked by walls, and doesn't lose its picture when an air plane fly overhead. Which is part of why they want to be able to use it for cell phones, wireless devices and other adventurous inventions.
Its all well and good to move on and be productive with technology, but what really gets my goat, is that they have the nerve to do it, just purely so that they could sell off the old analog airspace. They auctioned off all the old analog airspace last year, to the highest bidders, but are making them wait to use the airwaves, until the consumers switch to DTV.
Of course, our gratification greed based society has to make sure no one gets anything for free, that would be awful.
If its not bad enough that they made all that money from the old analog air wave space, and didn't share any of it with consumers, there is also not a single shred of proof that any of the revenue earned will be put towards issues consumers are actually concerned about, or truly need. Most likely, it will go into the pockets of those loft CEO's who managed to get the government backing.
What's more, is that the poor saps who bought the analog air space are being put on hold while the FCC figures out why people are so unhappy.
First, even the safest drivers in the world have to buy insurance, then we can't make the choice to wear our own seat belts, cigarette smoking will soon be outlawed, schools are forceably being shut down, and now we are no longer going to be able to get 'free' TV. What are they going to take away next?
TV has been free for more than 30 years, yet for some reason they decide that its long enough, and they want to squeeze every last penny out of viewers.
As one person said, "The consumers would never pay a sent if the government didn't make them."
What does that say about our government?
I could have sworn that Americans upheld freedom, expression and equality. Why is it that suddenly we are all idiots who have to be controlled into spending money, because we don't know what it good or bad?
It won't be long until they start taking away more rights, they have already taken many.
Are you frustrated with all of this? You are not alone.
Before you make your final decision about DTV and the mandated switch, think about this:
Is TV really worth it anymore? With infomercials abroad, bad news all over, and children taking in information and habits they shouldn't be exposed to, it just doesn't seem like its worth the hassel.
Even with the new 'parental controls', many shows that are entirely inappropriate for youngsters, are still marked G, PG or PG13. Meaning that younger kids are being able to watch shows geared towards an older audience. And with most kids being allowed to have a TV in their rooms, it becomes impossible to monitor them all the time.
Not only that, but many in this time of 'Green' changes, many have realized what a waste TV has become. There are so many better things to be doing. Exercising, creating, enjoying life. Even the internet is better for your brain then TV. And if you must really turn your brain to mush, www.Hulu.com has done a very good job of making it available to you online.
Something smells very fishy with this DTV switch, and I for one and doing the green thing, by turning of one more useless appliance. The 3 TV is this home are only used to watch DVD's or VHS (and tapes are cheap cheap these days!)
What will you do?
| 32 |
| Vote |
Add Comments
Read More
