Why are millions being spent to get the public to switch to DTV?

Question

$990 million to be exact!

Does the government just want us to be dumbed down even more with all the drivel that is on TV? Is TV really that important? I could understand this if there are a few channels with nothing but educational programs (channels teaching math, languages, etc), but I've yet to see one.

I mean there are so many other things the money can be spent on (eg. education, boarder security, war[lulz]) instead of TV.

Sources:

http://www.dtv.gov/index.html

http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/devlin/10329;_ylt=Ai2yTKsomHEtTj90sJFhkFUSLpA5

Answer 1

I agree, but mostly because, "Is it the Federal government's job to smooth transitions of private companies?" Yes there are a lot of people dependent on their TV for news and information, and even some for it's educational value i.e. Sesame Street, Discovery or the History Channels, So what?A lot of people were dependant on buggy whips once. To be real, people watch far too much television and expect it to have too much value in their life. This is another example of how government spends to much and uses the monies it takes in taxes to level the playing field. That is what is unfair, not the fact that some people won't be able to watch CNN.

Answer 2

I couldn't agree more about there being so many other things where that money would be much, much better spent.  It is still mind boggling to me how so many idiots make it to the top of the political world. Our whole system is in dire need of a serioussss overhaul and you can bet your a-- it's not going to be politicians who give it one.  Get every politician out of politic's and start from scratch. Thenn we might see some changes that make sense annnd that make a difference.  I love my country and I fly the American flag as proud as anyone, but I've lost alot of faith in our government and losing more everyday.  Think some good old fashioned a-- kickings would do that whole bunch on capital hill a world of good!!  Lemmme at em!    ; )

Answer 3

brainwashing the republicans love to push people around and media is the simplest and most effective of of doing so.

Answer 4

The government will be auctioning off the old analog equipment for licensing for other things such as for emergencies.  The whole purpose of this is to reduce the national debt.  Yeah they forfeited $900 million, but they will make that up when they auction the old equipment.

Answer 5

I think it had to do with communication problem they had in 911 and events like Katrina. This transition is supposed to free up that frequency for emergency communications over airways. I'm pretty sure it wasn't just about better picture quality. But I'm not entirely sure.

Answer 6

Read the book "1984" by George Orwell and you will have your answer:

"Big Brother is watching you."

Answer 7

Television broadcasting is under the purview of the federal government, namely, the FCC, and the airwaves "belong to the people," so the theory goes, so it's within their perogative to assist the public in accessing the new technology that will permanently change how television is broadcast. Yes, TV is "that important," if only because it's a communication medium that's seen by tens of millions of people at all times, generates billions of dollars, employs countless workers, facilitates trade, and disseminates information quickly and broadly.

That having been said, you're not required to like TV, and you're not required to watch it, and I strongly recommend that if you bemoan the lack of channels that teach math or languages then you should either initiate such television programming yourself (perhaps through cable access at first) or just get rid of your TV altogether.

By the way, they could just donate that $990 million toward those other things you mentioned, but the recipients might be a little insulted by the amount: seven times as much is spent a year on border security, over seventy times as much goes to education, and better than four hundred times as much gets spent on defense.

Answer 8

Well for all we know they are at the transaction of watching us quite clearly in every living lounge through tv. What ever the answer is probably to much to understand or there is a reason and thats money and control. Like you say about education, well there ant much of that because they dont want us to get intelegent otherwise we will ask to many questions and become a problem. So they want us to be thick and just go along with it. While they govern us with schools,laws,churches,police,army. They live in each others pockets and only up the stakes when it threatens there assetts. Dont forget, who has the most most money wins the market and holds the most knowledge. Plus the more we watch tv we become brain washed. We copy cat the main stream while wile people starve to death. Your question is just like asking where is all the money from all the years gone to the dying in third world countries. You would thing with all the millions there would be no more lack of food. People at the top only look after there assetts, yours doesnt mean anything. Just like Grace Jones, said, we are slaves to the rythem. Or Karl Marx, opiot of the masses, or Emile Durkeim, calling it the Iron cage. This might be a little out of range but sometimes we have to think outside the square to find an answer. Robbie

Answer 9

well....theres a theory that all kinds of other type of TV AKA not digital...the service will be cut off....honestly i think its stupid...its just TV.....i think we have other things to worry about.

Answer 10

The extra bandwidth that digital signals will free up will let some company buy the airspace that will likely offset the cost of telling people.  You worry about $990 million in a year?  What about the $6 billion a month in the Middle East?

The government is getting $20 billion for selling the extra bandwidth.  A 5% loss isn't bad for just advertising.

Answer 11

There is a limited amount of frequency space available, and analog TV is taking up a great deal of it. As someone said there have been problems, especially with emergency transmittions.

This will narrow the amount of band space that the television stations will take. While the government is spending plenty on it, the individual stations have had to be prepared for the switch as well.

This is not a matter of subsidizing television stations. Think of it as an investment in the infrastructure, like the Interstate Highway System. It might save lives in the future.