Don’t Let the Switch to Digital TV Hurt Consumers
- por: Consumers Union
- destinatário: U.S. Senate,, U.S. House of Representatives
You may not know it yet, but your TV could soon go dark.
Congress is getting ready to take up legislation that would set a firm date for all television signals to switch from the analog signal you receive now to an all-digital one. Yet, nearly 85% of Americans do not have a TV capable of receiving this new digital signal. Some consumers could wind up having to buy a brand new TV or a set-top converter box (estimated cost of at least $50 each).
Congress is in the process of deciding who should pay for the switch - consumers or the government. The government will also auction off the channels that are currently used for local TV broadcasting, potentially earning billions of dollars on the sale. Importantly, these funds could be used to compensate consumers who will be harmed by the switch to digital TV.
Tell Congress that consumers shouldnÂ’t have to bear the financial burden for the transition to digital TV!
For more information on this issue, please visit HearUsNow.org, a site operated by Consumers Union.
Congress is getting ready to take up legislation that would set a firm date for all television signals to switch from the analog signal you receive now to an all-digital one. Yet, nearly 85% of Americans do not have a TV capable of receiving this new digital signal. Some consumers could wind up having to buy a brand new TV or a set-top converter box (estimated cost of at least $50 each).
Congress is in the process of deciding who should pay for the switch - consumers or the government. The government will also auction off the channels that are currently used for local TV broadcasting, potentially earning billions of dollars on the sale. Importantly, these funds could be used to compensate consumers who will be harmed by the switch to digital TV.
Tell Congress that consumers shouldnÂ’t have to bear the financial burden for the transition to digital TV!
For more information on this issue, please visit HearUsNow.org, a site operated by Consumers Union.
Dear [your Senator/Representative],
I am writing to express my concerns about digital television, and the need to ensure that consumers are not hurt when broadcasters shift to digital transmission.
I understand that Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton is planning on introducing a bill to complete the DTV transition by the end of 2008, but that his proposal does not deal with the crucial issue of consumer compensation. Consumers should not have to pay the price for the transition, and Congress must act to make sure consumers don't foot the bill.
As television broadcasting transitions to digital, people who currently subscribe to cable or satellite will most likely be unaffected and will be able to continue using their current systems. However, those consumers with TVs not hooked up to cable or satellite, who watch only over-the air broadcasts, will have to buy new digital-ready TVs or a converter box that some predict will cost at least $50 each. Otherwise, their TVs will go black. Government Accountability Office estimates that about 19% of households rely solely on over-the-air TV and nearly half of them have incomes less than $30K per year. Congress should find ways to avoid making consumers pay for this transition.
I also understand that digital television uses the airwaves more efficiently and that gives broadcasters the option to use these channels for other services, including up to six channels of programming. Congress should prevent broadcasters from using these airwaves to control too much local media.
Furthermore, in order to make the transition to digital television, Congress gave broadcasters additional airwaves that must be returned to the government once the transition is made. There is pressure to auction these airwaves to raise money for the Treasury. Revenue from these auctions should be used to cover the cost of keeping consumers' televisions functional.
In addition, I urge you to consider dedicating a portion of these airwaves for uses that could benefit the public and business, such as community wireless networks and public safety communications. You should also ensure that the airwaves that are auctioned do not go solely to dominant cell phone companies. This should be an opportunity to allow new and emerging companies to enter the market to give consumers real choices and better prices.
Sincerely,
[your name]
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