Switch too soon

Commercials for the switch to digital television signals have been bombarding loyal television watchers for months now. The switch goes into effect on Feb. 17, and the commercials urge viewers to prepare themselves for said switch.

The problem, as I see it, is that many people don’t care or aren’t paying attention. They may know there is a Web site they can visit, but do they? Do they know why the switch is happening or where to get these converter boxes? Can they afford them?

The Nielsen Company predicts that up to 6.5 million American households are, and will be, unprepared for the switch. Portland itself ranks fifth on the list of city populations that are not ready for the switch.

These numbers generally represent those of low-income households who receive the current signal via bunny ears on the top of their old televisions. I myself fall into the category, as I imagine a portion of Portland State students do.

This means that on Feb. 17 about 9 percent of Portland television sets will no longer be able to pick up free television. Not the end of the world by any means, but it still strikes me as somewhat unfair.

In order for one to not lose their signal, they are required to do a number of things. They can buy a digital converter box, subscribe to cable or satellite television or buy a newer television with a built-in digital converter.

So, basically, one has to spend money, potentially a large amount of money or an amount that one is unable to pay, in order to obtain something that used to be free.

For many, including myself, buying a new TV or getting cable is not an option. The powers that be recognized this fact and decided to issue out $40 coupons (a maximum of two per household) to go toward buying a digital converter box.

This sounded like an acceptable idea until they ran out of money for the coupons. Now there is a waiting list to receive a coupon with who knows how many people on it who will have to wait an arbitrary amount of time for the coupon.

It may have been easier for the government to just issue rebates or discounts to the vendors instead of making them the middle man and requiring citizens to deal with the red tape, but it’s a little late for that.

This is incredibly unfair to those with low incomes, for whom an $80 converter box does not fall within their budget. The House of Representatives recently turned down a request by Congress to allow stations to postpone the change until June to allow people to prepare.

So what if a few million Americans can’t watch TV? They should be out getting exercise or reading or something, right?

It isn’t just that some people won’t be able to watch television, but this will also hurt revenue from broadcasters, stations, advertisers, etc. This is also a problem for people that are coming on hard times.

Not everyone has the time or money to get ready for the switch. Soon they won’t be able to zone out with some television, however fuzzy it may be, and relax after a hard day of work, studying or looking for a job.

This switchover seems untimely considering the current economic crisis. There are more important things to tend to at the moment than spending tax money, which the state is borrowing at this point, on these converter boxes when the switch can wait for a more opportune time.