Senates Passes 2009 DTV Transition Date

If you are worried about how much longer your analog television will be able to receive broadcast signals, relax. The Senate has approved a new timetable that includes a new analog television transition cut-off date of 2009. However, for those consumers who procrastinate in purchasing a digital television, or just can't afford one by that time, you will have a bonus -- a $3 Billion aid program will be available to assist consumers who will need to purchase digital-to-analog converter boxes so that their old televisions will work under the new broadcast system. It must be noted that the subsidy will only be available to consumers, regardless of income level, that do not receive their television programming via cable or satellite. The cost of the subsidy is "anticipated" to come from the income the governement will receive by the auctioning off the no-longer-needed analog television broadcast frequencies when they become available.

Although the government may be obligated to assist consumers, as a result of its role in requiring the conversion from analog to digital-only television broadcasting, the converter box subsidy may end up being another example of a new government entitlement program that all taxpayers have to foot the bill for, instead of trying to come up with a private-enterprise solution to the problem. For additional details and perspective, check out the report from Rocky Mountain News.