FCC Dishes Out Fines over Digital Television Deadline

[admin]

The transition to digital television in 2009 is no small matter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has dealt 11 companies up to $6 Million in fines. A majority of the fines are going to retailers for not properly warning consumers about TVs with analog-only tuners. Retailers taking the brunt of the fines include: Sears/K-Mart $1.09 million dollar and Wal-Mart with a $992,000 fine. Also significantly fined were Circuit City, Fry’s Electronics, Target, Best Buy and CompUSA.

Discuss "FCC Dishes Out Fines over Digital Television Deadline " here. Read the article.

 

[gliz]

Crap! I just found this article in my local news and was gona strt a thread on this! but all I can say is HAHA !!

 

[GlocksRock]

I think some of the salespeople should get fined too, as they are misinforming the customer telling them that they need to get a new tv, when all they need is a digital converter box. They should also advise them that they can get up to two $40 coupons from the gov. for the purchase of these converters. I got my two coupons, and already have the converter, and it's very nice, all the stations come in great, and I get more stations, plus a guide that I never would have gotten with analog broadcast signals.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Is the switchover date in Canada and the US the same? I am on the verge of purchasing a new TV and I am in Canada.

Need I worry?

 

[birdonthebeach]

Wow - I had no idea the V-chip even existed anymore. Other than Algore, does anyone actually use this thing??

 

[JTK]

Analog shutdown in Canada

The analog shutdown in Canada is in 2009. Currently, only Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa have more than one digital/Hi-Def OTA station. If you want to learn more about digital OTA in Canada, you should check out the forums at digitalhome.ca.

 

[fmw]

I think the government should fine itself for getting involved where it has no business. People should be able to choose how digital or analog they want their TV reception. Way, way, way, way too much government.

 

[GlocksRock]

I have no problem with the gov. making a deadline for digital tv in this instance. It helps them free up the airwaves to get more bandwith where it's needed, and it makes for better tv for everyone else... the digital signal on my analog tv looks a lot better than it ever did with the analog over the air signal, even with an amplified antenna.

 

[scott911]

Syntax-Brillian Corp 1.3 million fine!

I feel bad that Syntax-Brillian choose to fight me for months and months over a warrentee issue involving their amazingly poor 20" EDTV.

- looks like Hope Frank and staff's time would have been much better spent paying attention to the FCC guidelines instead of investing so much effort in stone walling me!!!

Scott S.

 

[Demonster]

I think some of the salespeople should get fined too, as they are misinforming the customer telling them that they need to get a new tv, when all they need is a digital converter box. They should also advise them that they can get up to two $40 coupons from the gov. for the purchase of these converters. I got my two coupons, and already have the converter, and it's very nice, all the stations come in great, and I get more stations, plus a guide that I never would have gotten with analog broadcast signals.

My wife and I are looking at changing to dish because the cable compan want to charge us another 10 bucks per month for the digital converter box on top of our current costs. Is the digital coverter something that you can use with an uinscrambled cable signal?

 

[Penny]

My wife and I are looking at changing to dish because the cable compan want to charge us another 10 bucks per month for the digital converter box on top of our current costs. Is the digital coverter something that you can use with an uinscrambled cable signal?

Huh? If you get cable then you don't need a converter box, right?

Also, does the FCC actually have a big enough "bite" to get these companies to pay their fine? If I were Best Buy or CC I guess I'd tell the FCC to go screw.

 

[TLS Guy]

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. If you get cable then you don't need a converter box.

Also, does the FCC actually have a big enough "bite" to get these companies to pay their fine? If I were Best Buy or CC I guess I'd tell the FCC to go screw.

There is plenty of analog cable service around still. However you don't have to rent from the cable company when they switch to all digital, you can get your $40 and buy your own.

 

[Penny]

There is plenty of analog cable service around still. However you don't have to rent from the cable company when they switch to all digital, you can get your $40 and buy your own.

Gotcha. Thanks. I didn't realize there were still analog cable co.'s out there.