Obama: He’s an image of hope to many. Hope that our country that can get back on the track and continue to excel as the best nation in the world. Yet, being the technologist I am, I see something extremely odd concerning his stances on the whole DTV.
The United States transition from analog/digital TV broadcasts to strictly digital TV broadcasts was originally set in 2006, and then was delayed three years to February 17, 2009, only 13 days away from this writing. Now the House has passed a bill to delay the shut-off date to June 12 and it’s only a matter of time until it goes into effect because Obama has said that he will sign it.
Seriously? Why the hell is he signing a bill that keeps the US in the stone age?
Obama started off, and still is, a highly tech-enthused president. He used Twitter, uStream, came up with an extremely well designed website, and still has a BlackBerry even during his presidency. So if he is so caught up with tech and the direction it’s going in, why is he signing a bill that is keeping the US lower in the technology rankings?
I suppose he doesn’t realize that the spectrum that would be freed up by shutting off analog signals would be put towards new technology innovations since Verizon Wireless was the highest bidder for the main spectrum block. Verizon has said they’ll use the spectrum for their new “4G” network using LTE (Long Term Evolution) to bring mobile network speeds that surpass any common landline internet connection in the US (which is another story in itself). Not to mention that the 700MHz spectrum will be used for first-responders during emergencies.
So my question is, Mr. President, what is your thinking behind this madness? Do you really think 6.5 million citizens are going to be suddenly prepared by June 12th? If not, then will you delay it again until everybody is prepared? Sir, that day won’t come. I even doubt that number will reach less than 6 million people who aren’t ready.
I hope that many stations go ahead and flip the switch on February 17th and show you that they don’t care if everybody isn’t ready. This has been promoted for over two years. Now is the time.
The future is calling and we need to answer it.
Totally, this bill is holding off advancement which is what I thought this administration was all about. Not to get too political here but this is an idealogy that many people on the left have been showing for so long. Such as holding 99 percent of the population to make sure that the other 1 can catch up. Sorry if there are some typos in this post, I’m typing from an iPhone.
Exactly how I feel and what I thought this administration would bring us… But apparently not. Especially with the bailout at $900+ BILLION dollars. Good Gawd.
It’s a shame, however I believe he has logic behind the decision (he loves technology after all).
Now with people getting laid off, and money being tight, buying a new TV set is the bottom of the list for many people.
Now for those that get laid off, other then checking the paper for job ad’s, TV is something for them to do, can we honestly take that away from them too in addition to their job?
Might suck for technology, but for the recession and the unemployed, I think i’d make the same decision.
Some of it had to do with the DTV coupon fiasco (the government “ran out” of them). Quite a few people relied on these coupons, which took months for some to receive, to upgrade their television sets from analog to digital.
The ultimate “DTV readiness test” will of course come on June 12th when many people will undoubtedly have their television access revoked.