Should the analog TV shutoff date (2/17/09) be postponed?

Looks like it will now be postponed till June 12 and people that didn't use their coupons before they expired will be able to reapply. It also looks like about 5-6 stations in Wisconsin (Madison, Wausau, La Crosse, and Rhinelander) plan on switching on the original date regardless.

I agree. Flip the switch. Once analog is shut down, spectrum is shifted for wireless data usage which is, imho, is more important than TV.

Agree, I have personally known about the switch for at least 3 years now and anyone who has turned a TV on in the last year has had this information pushed at them fairly heavily.

I don't feel bad for any of the procrastinators. Its their own fault they didn't act on getting a convertor box and now stock is out or low. They shouldn't be rewarded an extra 4 months because their lazy butts wouldn't get to a store and get a convertor. Best Buy had at least 50 on the shelf everytime I went there in the past year up until around November.

Let's hope it happens.

Nielson's figures have been proven to be inflated. Yes, there will be people without television. In most cases, these people have failed to act over the last 13 years and have also failed to act over the course of the last 11+ months that the information has been scrolling across our TV screens.

The truth is that there are people in parts of this country who live in locations that cannot reliably receive television signals. With the digital switch, there will be more people who can not get a signal due to digital signal issues.

According to the best estimates (forget Nielson's crap numbers) there are currently about 2.7 million households that can not receive analog TV. That numbe is expected to grow to about 4.5 million households that will not be able to receive a digital signal after the transition. These are OTA numbers. Out of these estimates, you can subtract the people who live in these areas but subscribe to a pay-TV service such as cable or satellite.

The truth is that there are always people in situation where they can not reliably receive television. Nothing will change their situation. Then, there are the others who do not receive television for other reasons. They won't pay for a service or they won't put an ugly antenna on their roof or they won't buy a converter box or whatever. These people who fail to act do not have the right to force a delay of this magnetude.

I am sorry that there is also a 3rd group of people who will be left out after the switch. yes, there will be a few poor or elderly people out there who have not yet taken the neccessary steps to continue to receive OTA television. Still, they have had ample oppertunity to do so.

There is no reason to continue to delay this switch. It frees up airwaves. It decreases electrical consumption, which will also lower natural gas, coal and oil consumption.

FLIP THE SWITCH ON FEBRUARY 17TH!!!!!

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.
House Republicans succeeded in scuttling a bill to delay the transition, which is scheduled for Feb. 17, less than two days after the Senate unanimously passed the plan.
The defeat is a setback for the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans are not ready for the switchover.
The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.

I have had access since 1989 and now with this converter box the picture is not always SEE-able, it breaks up like cable when the signal is lost. Can you increase your signal just a little bit, PLEASE, I live 20 miles south of Wautoma and have been told we are on the fringe. Besides I have been spoiled by your efficient personel, oh heck, we just like 'em and want to keep 'em,OK??????J. Barth