US to spend 1B on helping Americans...watch TV?

[Flashpoint]

http://www.canada.com/topics/technol...c7&k=20195&p=1

Initially, $990 million will be used to pay for coupons and to cover administrative costs, capped at $110 million. An additional $510 million might be allocated, but those coupons are reserved for households that have only over-the-air television. The government earmarked $5 million for public education.

Because they aren't doing enough of that already?

When completed, the digital TV transition will give people the ability to receive movie quality, high-definition pictures and CD-quality sound as well as the ability to receive several channels where they now receive one.

While that's generally considered laudable, it also will make obsolete most TVs that use an antenna to get a broadcast signal -- unless viewers get a converter box.

[ken0042]

Wow- that's quite the spin you've placed on that story.

For those of you not aware of the issue- many Americans get their TV from rabbit ears; because the choose to or cannot afford to get cable/satellite. In the coming years the US will be forcing analog channels off the air and substituting them with digital ones. This story is about how the gov't is helping those who cannot make the technological leap to do so.

It's about not leaving people behind as technology advances.

[Bobblehead]

It isn't like they are just spending a billion dollars out of the current coffers. Considering that it is expected that the auctioning of that spectrum will raise $10-$15 Billion, the outlay to the people who are going to lose their reception doesn't seem so bad.

[icarus]

In somewhat related news, I am sure other PBS fans like myself will appreciate the recent news that public television (and radio) will continue to be subsidised in the US.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House on Wednesday evening overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's plan to eliminate the $420 million federal subsidy for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS....ap/index.html

[Five-hole]

From the story Icarus linked:

"Taxpayers are being asked to pay more in taxes because Congress is not willing to make hard choices and balance our spending with our income," Lamborn (R-Colorado) said.

Fricking LOL.