FCC sets digital TV switch deadline

[Beau]

MSNBC Story

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 ? Dissatisfied with the speed at which the industry is going digital, the Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to require television manufacturers to have digital tuners on all sets by July 2007

 

[Fausto]

Okay, I'm confused. Why exactly is congress "mandating" that these TVs have digital tuners? I mean, sure the picture and signal are better, but why is congress so seemingly preoccupied with this? It's not exactly going to make/break the future of the nation if "Seinfeld" is a little fuzzy, is it?

 

[yakko]

Stupid government. They shouldn't be forcing us to buy something we don't want.

 

[Fausto]

An interesting side note to this story....read if you have TIVO.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

whats the point exactly?

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: yakko
Stupid government. They shouldn't be forcing us to buy something we don't want.

Well personally I want it, I just want the units to be cheaper . . . and they will be as supply increases. Digital television broadcasts (not just the actual TVs you buy at Circuit City) has tons of useful features I'd like to have . . . more than just making Seinfeld a little less fuzzy

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
whats the point exactly?

Point of what? This post? Just pointing out a fact that has been drawning controversy over the past couple of years.

Or the point of the switch? It's called setting standards so that there is continuity throught the industry, making buying components and ordering services a whole lot easier.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Okay, I'm confused. Why exactly is congress "mandating" that these TVs have digital tuners? I mean, sure the picture and signal are better, but why is congress so seemingly preoccupied with this? It's not exactly going to make/break the future of the nation if "Seinfeld" is a little fuzzy, is it?

I think it has to do with other systems that run hand in hand with regular broadcast being upgraded, namely the EBS.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Beau6183

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Okay, I'm confused. Why exactly is congress "mandating" that these TVs have digital tuners? I mean, sure the picture and signal are better, but why is congress so seemingly preoccupied with this? It's not exactly going to make/break the future of the nation if "Seinfeld" is a little fuzzy, is it?

I think it has to do with other systems that run hand in hand with regular broadcast being upgraded, namely the EBS.

EBS? Wut dat? Kindly enlighten a non-TV-tech savvy bio nerd, please?

Feel free to expound on the "other systems" and such as well if you would....I'm curious.

 

[Ornery]

"They shouldn't be forcing us to buy something we don't want."

Yeah, like friggin' air bags! Tack $1,600.00 to the price of a vehicle for a dangerous device to boot! :frown:

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Beau6183

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Okay, I'm confused. Why exactly is congress "mandating" that these TVs have digital tuners? I mean, sure the picture and signal are better, but why is congress so seemingly preoccupied with this? It's not exactly going to make/break the future of the nation if "Seinfeld" is a little fuzzy, is it?

I think it has to do with other systems that run hand in hand with regular broadcast being upgraded, namely the EBS.

EBS? Wut dat? Kindly enlighten a non-TV-tech savvy bio nerd, please?

Feel free to expound on the "other systems" and such as well if you would....I'm curious.

Emergency Broadcast System.

Other systems that may be coming are systems like Movies on Demand, internet TV and the likes.

 

[Fausto]

Emergency Broadcast System.

Oh....duh.

I'm all for increased interactivity on TV. Movies on demand in particular would kick ass (although Blockbuster's gonna go toes-up if/when that happens).

Hehe....imagine watching a movie on demand while logged in to ATOT via webTV with others watching the same movie....it'd be like MST3K on crack.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
whats the point exactly?

The point is both to set standards(There are current 18 different DTV "standards" out there), and to get DTV moving. DTV is not only better in terms of quality, but in terms of airspace too. The old analogue space that current TVs use will be sold off to make way for cell phones, ect, while the space DTV will use will be less than what the old TV's used. This is the FCC's second objective really, first to get a standard set, then to ensure it goes well to free up the airspace. They are also trying to move TV forward in general(check with a US Govt Major here, but I believe the Constitution has a line about furthering the arts and sciences), as the cost will ultimately be marginal as time moves on; someone just has to force consumers/companies to move on.

 

[Thegonagle]

Because they eventually want to be able to use the current spectrum for something else, such as wireless communication, and digital radio. That's not going to be able happen until there is a saturation of the new tuners, some number of years after 2007. They're telling the TV set makers they've got to hurry up already. There's only so much usable spectum out there.

 

[zsouthboy]

Exactly what these guys posted ahead of me. The government doesn't care about your picture quality.... there is only so much of the spectrum devoted to television broadcasts, and they can cram like 10 times as many channels in the same spectrum because DTV is smaller than analog, or, what they are going to do is use part of the spectrum for other things then.

Hell, I could care less.... nothing comes in where I am anyway....(i miss the simpsons)...