Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The transition to digital television is still set to take place on February 18th, 2008 with the last analog broadcasts airing on February 17.  At that time, televisions without digital tuners will not be able to receive television over the air. 

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) does not want the transition to be subjected to a delay by the Obama-Biden administration.  The Obama-Biden presidential transition team co-chair asked for a delay so the poor and elderly can handle the switch.

Gary Shapiro, CEO and president of CEA, offered five answers to possible problems:

“(1) [Get] a fix of accounting issues such as the anti-deficiency rules that are preventing NTIA from sending out coupons despite available funding. Only 19 million of the 33.5 million available coupons have been redeemed.

“(2) Examine total funding for the coupon program and explore any need for additional funding, for example, to send coupons out via first class mail to eliminate three week delivery delays.

“(3) [Eliminate] the 90-day expiration date on coupons, which would put more coupons into use.

“(4) Explore additional funding for government call centers and funding to local grassroots groups to answer questions about the transition.

“(5) Should the government determine that the supply of converter boxes will not meet demand, examine permitting use of converter box coupons to purchase access to digital television either through pay service (cable, satellite or fiber) or credit toward the purchase of a limited-feature or low-cost digital television.”

I’m sure many of us are well aware of the transition and have told people we know what to do to avoid any signal interruption.  This transition will take place eventually and there is no way 100% of the population will be aware of what’s going on unless the message is printed on money or something equally ridiculous. 

Shapiro addressed serious problems faced with this transition, but I don’t know how complete these solutions are.  “Get a fix of accounting issues?”  That’s easier said than done.  His third point is probably the easiest fix. 

Another fix would be to have better transition commercials.  They are just abysmal and boring.  Get some better ads and target them to those you believe are uninformed.

Read: [Digital TV Transition]
Read: [CEA offers Obama TV delay alternatives]