Why does DTV converter boxes take 1080i/720p resolution signal and make 480i signal?

Question

Wouldn't the FCC just as well do better by trading in the old CRT TVs and donating them to developing countries and giving the public discount coupons for HDTVs?

Answer 1

Because it is cheaper for the public & the government to use cheap $50-$70 converters than require everybody to purchase a new digital TV.

Answer 2

Well, the $40 coupon program is costing around One Billion Dollars.

How much would the HDTV coupons be for-$400? Then that would cost around Ten Billion Dollars. Of course, it would be a lot more, because all of the people buying HDTVs on their own right now would be lining-up for coupons.

As far as donating sets is concerned, there aren't any developing countries that could use our sets-none of them use our NTSC TV system.