These damn TV boxes and the idea behind it .

[blues90]

First off let me say I can bet you if you flipped one of these boxes over it would say made in China so why not make these american made products?

Most of all why does the tax payer foot the bill. If the networks who want to switch over to digital and send this propaganda corporate swill into peoples minds and only brain wash people and sell crap many don't need. They make the people who they are and show you who to be and promise to get you there is you just buy their product which by the way is not made here.

Look at any old western movie and who owned the town the meek and pasty banker who hired thugs to protect him and now we have the same thing only much larger.

Then advance to the movie Avalon where the TV became the death of the family and community and brought on the suburbs of hell and promoted the automobile so everyone could reach out and destroy nature without thought or conscience because the TV people sold see the USA in your Chevy all home grown holsome people who made you feel they were actually your friend. Bull shit!


Then look at the movie network and there you see just how the mass brainwashing takes affect.

If people want to be trapped in virtual world where everything is made to appear perfection then watch the TV set.

What's next on this road of progress that will be just another item people will adapt to and depend on when none of it is needed to live a normal life.

None of this insanity makes any sense to me as if shiny new things are all that are desired and then they soon become out dated landfill or re-cycled trash.

Then on top of this the smoker who has been to focal point and target of every health issue and banned from smoking and bashed because they are addicted to a product that was sold by the TV ad's as the thing to do and now they are the ones who pay for SCHIP.

I smoke and SCHIP is a great idea but I will quit smoking the day the tax is applied if it kills me and while I am going through with drawl anyone who points a finger at me better watch out with their second hand smoke or how I raise the cost of healthcare which I don't even have .

Find another way to fund SCHIP like a fast food tax so EVERYONE can contribute, If you don't want to provide the smoker with padded room to get off the damn things then stuff the fuck up and I am talking to all of you none smokers who have no issue breathing in car exhaust fumes or packing on the pounds eating crap or shopping at wallyworld.

There was a dollar a pack increase here in calif that was to support cancer research and schools and I voted yes being a smoker and yet where did that dollar go , into the ether? Well never again people, I'm not paying for it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. You know what TV shows I like?

The ones that talk about how people waste their lives on internet message boards.

[RandySF]

2. Television in and of itself is not evil

It's what you choose to watch or not watch, and how much. I agree that 99% of it is crap, but there is also programming that can be worth viewing. The problem is that gaining access to those channels can be costly.

[Jkid]

4. And to gain access to those channels

You have to subscribe to the most expensive tier of cable/satellite, and when you watch those channels you will have to subsidize 99% the crap you don't watch. That's why I prefer the choice of ala carte and tiering so that consumers would have a REAL choice.

[RandySF]

5. Good point

I wish I can choose which individual channels I had.

[dysfunctional press]

14. you wouldn't save money with an ala carte service-

you aren't subsidizing the crappy channels- they're subsidizing your preferred channels. a lot of the unpopular channels are there because they pay to be there- by offering those channels in packages with channels that charge for their content, providers can offer those channels that charge at a lower overall cost.

[blues90]

7. We dumped all the premium channels

And this is direct TV yet they have three basic cable options which they told me they made these packages based on surveys. What surveys and why is basic TV $57 per month and you don;t get all the basic channels just their picks.

I don't even watch TV my wife does but we are at the point of giving up TV and just use it for VHS and DVD.

It's a con and a rip off there are three channels worth a damn. You should be able to select just the channes you watch and pay for just that and $10 per month would cover it. In the 80's cable had many less channels and a good selection and it was cheap.

You see a bill for $57 and want to shoot the damn thing.

Who does this digital TV signal benefit?

[Tunkamerica]

9. It benefits the government who are auctioning off the extra space that

removing analog will open up which should mean that it benefits everyone. It benefits law enforcement and first responders. It benefits cell companies, internet providers, cable companies. And some would say it benefits the consumer though that is still an iffy proposition at best.

[conscious evolution]

10. If you dont mind

being lulled into a hypnotic state even if nothing but a test pattern or static is on.
Same with computers.At least they are interactive though.TVs aren't.You just sit there and allow it to hypnotize you.

[Tunkamerica]

3. what?

the chinese cigarette companies made you buy a converter box to help local tv stations?

[blues90]

6. What are you talking about ?

[Tunkamerica]

8. I could ask you the same question

that was one of the most convoluted, stream of consciousness posts I've seen. My point was that your point is less than clear. Believe me the television stations are not the one's pushing for this transition. The costs are astronomical. The reason the boxes are made in China are legion. The same reason most consumer goods are made there: lax regulation, low wages/benefits for workers, etc. And then the smoking thing...where did that come from and what does it have to do with converter boxes? Maybe a seprate post would have been a good idea.

Anyway, I just thought it was confusing. Obviously I confused you with my comment.

[blues90]

33. Obviously you can't read or understand anything

Unless it's spelled out in simple language and are not capable of reading between the lines. I know why the crap is made in China , that is not new, What I was suggesting is we need jobs here so why promote out sourced crap anymore than we already do and then us taxpayers dollars to support it.

The smoking tax for SCHIP makes as much sense as building these boxes in China.

I am not the one who is confused, I know exactly what a scam this entire idea is.

Since you have all the answers then who benefits from this transition? Analog TV works fine and has since it's conception. I never heard anyone with rabbit ears complaining. It's not going to make TV cheaper which was free air. It's got to do with their progress to force HD TV on everyone and soon when the old set dies you will not be able to get a new one. Tell me I'm wrong.

[KoKo]

11. The "boxes" should have been given FREE by the Cable Industry!

It was a ripoff and I'll bet they do have "Made in China" stamped on the bottom.

[dysfunctional press]

12. why should/would the cable industry supply the boxes...?

if people get the boxes, it's because they don't have cable tv to begin with- why would a cable company want to be the supplier for it's own competiton...? :shrug:

[KoKo]

16. The Competition being "Rabbit Ears?" Folks who can't afford a modern TV?

Wha? :shrug:

[dysfunctional press]

28. cable-tv is a paid-for service...over-the-air television is free...

you only need the digital converter box for over-the-air (i.e.FREE) broadcasts. why should the cable companies pay to supply the converter boxes for people to remain non-customers of their service?? :shrug:

[ferrous wheel]

13. Good idea. And Chevrolet could give out $1000 off coupons to buy a Toyota.

:eyes:

[KoKo]

17. Ahh...that Legislation is still in the "Wings" waiting to come out. But, not Toyota but Ford & GM!

:rofl:

[4lbs]

36. The spectrum freed up by going digital has already been purchased for about $20 billion via auction

by various private entities like radio stations, wireless broadband, and cell phone carriers. They should have been the one "giving these things FREE", not the cable companies.

Actually, $1.5 billion of that $20 billion was put into the $40 dollar coupon program for converter boxes.

Read more about it.

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/03/19/daily.4/

[crimsonblue]

15. About the digital transition

since all over the air broadcast stations are abandonging their analog lines in lieu of digital broadcast, a plethera of open bandwidth became available on the market. The FCC made something like $5-10 billion off the sale of the bandwidth, plus it created a dedicated, universal frequency for emergency and natl security purposes. Verizon, DirectTv, and others bought up the majority of the bandwidth, and will be using it to convert to newer, faster telecommunications. So what does this all mean? Consumers will be getting faster, more reliable networks, and I believe there is a provision about providing free or low cost internet access. I'm hoping that the much ballyhooed 'white space' frequency will pass FCC muster, so that we can connect easier and cheaper to even more networks.

[havocmom]

18. Thank you for a decent explanation

People don't seem to understand that airwaves are an asset and this means we had some extra assets to sell.

[KoKo]

19. That's exactly why Americans who don't have cable should get FREE BOXES!

It was an "upgrade" that was necessary for those folks who don't have cable lines to them and who can't afford Satellite TV's. We need to support the "lesser of us" because "it's just the charitable thing to do." Making them PAY is the ultimate in a Capitalist/Authoritarian Society...where the HAVES rule it all...and the REST OF US...get a coupon that covers "part" of the cost. KEEP US SPENDING because we have NOTHING ELSE BUT THE "CONSUMER" left in our rotten Society that the Repugs with Dems help gave us.

[crimsonblue]

20. so TV is a right these days? n/t

[KoKo]

23. If you can't get it and you are an American who owns the Airwaves and

the airwaves are used by ALL...then YES...it had NOW become a RIGHT...like having access to drinking water or the land you purchased with drinking water... It's about what do we want to be as a Society.

You might seem to want to feel that "living poor" without access to anything in a third or fourth world country is the way to go, though...from the tone of your post. YOU THINK it's just about CHOICE!

A Libertarian, I presume? :shrug:

[crimsonblue]

24. I'm just saying.. if you can't afford a convertor box, you probably

a) don't watch tv, or b) can't afford cable. Also, TV is anything but a right. It is a luxury.

[KoKo]

25. Who are YOU to decide who gets to watch TV and who doesn't?

You make assumptions without giving any examples or studies. Obviously if the Government was going to have to offer coupons there were rules in place that stated that our AIRWAVES ARE OWNED BY ALL OF US...and that there should be ACCESS BY ALL to what they OWN! You assume that those who can't afford a converter box...don't watch TV and Can't afford Cable... Do you see the inconsistency with your argument?

[crimsonblue]

26. I'm not deciding anything. I think if you want a convertor box,

pay for it, like the rest of us do for cable.

[dysfunctional press]

29. people need a television to take advantage of the airwaves...

and now they may need a converter box that costs $10 bucks. if they can afford a television, they can afford $10 for a converter. simple as that.

[KoKo]

35. Let's just say there are some very elderly folks living in the backwoods of NC or Utah...

There families have moved away...maybe they can only get one or two channels with their rabbit ears...but it's what they are used to. Let's say that their TV is 20 years old...and it's worked fine.They live on minimal SS and it's not really enough to cover their medications and food...but they make do. There only thing is that their TV still has some news on it at 6:00.

Lets say there is a younger group. Their TV's are only 10 to 15 years old and they have rabbit ears and get a few more channels. They have lost their job, they don't have income, now...kids and trying to get by.

Isn't it the responsibility of those who decided that all Americans need to CHANGE give those folks a FREE converter box? Aside from the coupons and that the cash payment is only $10.00...a lot of folks can't deal with that. It's either too confusing (for the elderly poor with no friends or relatives) or the newly poor who didn't get into the "granite counter tops and stainless steel" and the new flat screens.

It's the companies and Governments duty to those folks to UPGRADE THEM FREE! Their old TV's with a few channels might be the only pleasure they have in life right now or in the coming years.

[dysfunctional press]

37. what happens when their tv stops working completely...?

are we supposed to buy them new ones?

in order to watch tv, people have to make investments in equipment- tv, rabbit ears,etc...this box is just another $10 item that they have to take responsiblity for themselves.

btw- the people who decided that americans need change was US- thru our elected reps. so if you feel so strongly about it- go buy some converters and pass them out to the poor.

[blues90]

27. How fast does it need to be ?

You turn on any TV set and its on right now there is no download time.

It reminds me of when cell phones went fro analog to digital and this was planned for the future of internet phone access when you were forced to by a new phone and no one helped pay for that.

Bet on it , soon the old TV won't work and you will be forced to by an upgraded TV to do all the new crap planned.

[crimsonblue]

31. If your tv has a coaxial plug, you're fine.

If you have satellite, you're fine. Only people pulling in analog over-the-air streams, such as through bunny ears, will be affected.

[B Calm]

21. What's next? I think we'll all have to buy 3D TV's in a few years!

[dysfunctional press]

30. i wish!

but the belly-aching luddites will never let it happen.

[B Calm]

38. Don't wish too fucking hard. They are always looking for a way to milk money from us

[L0oniX]

22. Surprise! ...Those DTV boxes cause brain cancer n/t

:evilgrin:

[Missy Vixen]

32. We have no children, but we pay for public education

Considering the fact I'm sure DH and I have paid for our education many times over now (let's just say in June I'll be celebrating 30 years since graduation,) is this fair as well?

Maybe I should ask for a rebate while you're asking for yours. If you find it so objectionable to pay for SCHIP, feel free to stop smoking anytime.

[Tab]

34. The networks don't necessarily want to switch over

although they're happy to. What is (was) going on is that the FCC, figuring most of us are on cable anyway, is trying to free up bandwidth. Analog transmission takes up a lot of bandwidth, and if most of us aren't using it, they want us to transition to digital, and they can then auction off the analog transmission frequencies.