Can anyone explain this one?
January 10, 2009Ok, so according to my favorite talk radio guy, Obama thinks we should delay the 2-17-09 digital tv thing because people aren’t prepared. Have they not been warning us night and day for 18 months? Plus, the radio guy said that 7.7 million homes use an antenna (out of 300 million). So far, they have given out 41 million coupons for converter boxes. Huh? I seem to remember that they would give 2 coupons per household (we only asked for one because we only have one tv, which gets about 5 channels and that’s plenty for us, thank you very much), but even taking that into account, it seems they’ve given out 3 times too many…what is going on here?
I am sure that there are people who are not prepared – and they will not be until they cannot watch TV. But is that such a disaster?
HIPPA is a government mandated program that health insurances were suppose to be in full compliance almost 2 years ago. NY Medicaid a government insurance is still working on becoming fully compliant. I believe initial legislation was passed in 1997. Can you explain that?
It doesn’t matter if you tell people that a hurricane is coming – gather food or water – or that tv is going digital – get ready – people don’t like to prepare.
Also, I think the numbers are counting people who aren’t ready who don’t want to be ready. It’s like when they quote 40 million people as not having insurance – there are people who choose not to sign up for it – either because they don’t want to or actually have moeny to pay for health expenses. (Of course, with health care, there are people who want it and can’t get it, but that’s a different number).
I don’t think they’ve counted how many people are unprepared–the 7.7 million is the total number of households who use an antenna. Presumably most of them already have a converter box, or a new tv that doesn’t require one…so why are people asking for converter boxes who have no use for them? And why would the government give out 40 million coupons when only 7 million households need them?
I think you’re all right about people not preparing no matter what the situation…and I think it will be hilarious when their tv’s no longer work!
Personally, we got two coupons, but only bought one converter – and it is HORRIBLE. If the wind changes at all, we lose ALL reception for at least the given station, if not the whole bloomin’ TV. And, we’re not picking up channel 8 at ALL. We may have to try a new antennae as well.
So, we are going to try a different converter box – but our second coupon has expired. So, I’m going to call to see if I can get another one. That would make 3 for us! As they started giving out these coupons 18 months ago, perhaps they’ve given out more because coupons expired. Additionally, of the 7.7 million “homes” using antennae, does that account for apartment buildings? Is that one home or mulitiple? Additionally, are the coupons given out by the household? or by the individual? Coupons could perhaps be being claimed for multiple individuals in a house, as people do share living space.
*sigh* Change is difficult…
I think the deal was 2 per household, and each apartment would count as a household.
We’re not too impressed with our reception, either…the weather definitely makes it go snowy, and Ben leaps up to adjust the antenna…it’s like we’re living in 1950 or something! However, we are not upset enough about it to resort to paying for it!
just a suggestion for frustrated people dealing with fuzzy pictures and antennas—–find a way to spend $1 less a day [which doesn't take much doing] and spend it on cable or a dish. My cable bill is under $30 per month incl. taxes, fees, etc. and I get app. 25 channels. And that cost includes being able to watch in HD. One downside is you might be tempted to watch more TV—-but then again you might get upset and be tempted to throw your current TV with fuzzy picture through the wall. Frankly I think all of those people are probably losing 5 to 7 years off their life due the stress of watching a fuzzy picture. I’ve got to close now as I feel poorly just thinking about it.
And maybe they are assuming that every household has a television set in house and active. Not every household has one. We did not have a television for decades when all our friends had one. Now my son’s family is shutting out television voluntarily to focus on other things.
Plus, we don’t need to prepare, we have cable … when we choose to watch television. About 2 -4 hours total per week and most of that we could get otherwise. The Internet is wonderful for watching TV without long commercial breaks.
I don’t think they were counting households with no televisions. The 7.7 million would be households who have a tv and use it with an antenna, without cable or a dish or whatever. Unless I am missing something, these would be the only people who would need a converter box. Those without a tv would not need one. Those with cable or a dish would not need one. So why have they given out so many coupons?
I have heard from others (my brother Tim included) about the coupons expiring quickly and not getting a chance to use them. On a side note, I actually thought about getting a coupon myself just in case we ever decide to drop cable again, but never got around to it. Maybe other people did bought one just so they could get shows when the cable is out or something. Of course, whoever commented about the internet is right: tons of tv shows are available for free on-line – in fact, many more than we can get for free with our “on demand” digital cable.