[Grovenet] Get cher coupons here!! Big black market sure todevelope!! Act now!!

[Steven]

Actually, TV could use a boost of technology and there isn't much room at
the current location. In fact ch 2-6 are one spectrum, 7-13 another and
14-69 a whole nother one. This has been in the works for over a decade and
has actually been postponed a few years already.
But there is a giveaway. Low Power TV. This is kind of a mop & pop TV
broadcasting. The government has set aside $65M to assist these little
stations to move to the digital world. I can see this getting some folks to
buy existing LPTV setups just so they can get in on this cow.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
Behalf Of Bob Browning
  Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 7:11 AM
  To: Grovenet
  Subject: [Grovenet] Get cher coupons here!! Big black market sure
todevelope!! Act now!!


  Here you go!! Do your part to make room for the next big spectrum auction
so we can keep paying for the Iraq War off books!!

  bob "oh, how much fun!!" browning

  PS: Happy New Year!!

    Feds share coupons to help TV transition (AP)
      a.. Posted on Tue Jan 1, 2008 12:34PM EST
    WASHINGTON - Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday
to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs
that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.

    Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still
gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a
picture.

    That's the day the television industry completes its transition from
old-style analog broadcasting to digital.

    The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be
available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin
accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the
purchase of the boxes.

    Viewers who have satellite or cable service will not need a box.

    To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at
http://www.dtv2009.gov starting Tuesday. The government also has set up a
24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

    Congress, in ordering the transition to digital broadcasting, set aside
$1.5 billion for the coupon program, which will fund 33.5 million coupons
and other costs.

    The giveaway basically works under the honor system.

    The first 22 million coupons will go to all households that request
them. That includes a residence that gets cable service for one television
but has a spare TV that still uses an antenna, for example.

    The rest of the coupons, however, are meant only for those who do not
subscribe to a pay-television service.

    The Nielsen Co. estimates that 14.3 million households, or about 13
percent of the 112.8 million total television households in the nation, rely
on over-the-air television broadcasts for programming.

    Tony Wilhelm, director of consumer education for NTIA, said the agency
expects to have enough coupons to satisfy demand. "We think the high number
will be 26 million," he said. "Low end is 10 million."

    Members of Congress have criticized both the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission for
their work on the transition to digital television.

    In November, the Government Accountability Office, Congress'
investigative arm, released a report that concluded there is "no
comprehensive plan" for the transition.

    Most of the concern rests with public education campaigns. While
Congress allocated $1.5 billion for the coupon program, only $5 million was
for education. The Association for Public Television Stations reported in
September that 51 percent of participants surveyed were unaware that the
transition was taking place.

    Since then, the broadcast industry has announced a voluntary public
education campaign. The FCC is circulating a plan among commissioners that
would make public education efforts by broadcasters mandatory.

    Congress ordered the transition to digital broadcasting to make more
efficient use of the publicly owned airwaves.

    On Jan. 24, the FCC will auction off the spectrum currently used for
analog television. That portion of the airwaves will be sold to wireless
providers and is expected to bring in as much as $15 billion. A portion of
the spectrum will also be dedicated for use by emergency responders.

    ___

    On the Web:

    FCC information: http://www.dtv.gov/