Santa Fe Given More Time to Prepare for Digital Evolution
(Santa Fe Homes Blog) Thanks to a delay approved by the House of Representatives, Americans will have more time to upgrade their TV sets to receive digital-only signals. Just two weeks away from the original deadline, the House of Representatives approved a delay of four months, making the new switch to digital June 12, 2009. The move is especially important for the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is in the highest market of citizens not ready for the switch. Only 12% of Santa Fe residents were prepared for the switch to digital.
The government lists the main reason for the switch, in addition to upgrading television signals, as follows:
“Converting to DTV also will free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used for other important services, such as public and safety services (police and fire departments, emergency rescue), and advanced wireless services.”
The switch was supposed to take place on February 17, but both the House and Senate approved delays stating that the United States wasn’t ready yet even though it has known about the switch for years. Cities in New Mexico, like Santa Fe and Albuquerque were the worst prepared for the switch according to a national poll.
Switching to digital is good. we were prepared to switch to it. Conversion into DTV is really good. How long it will be delayed??
I have a huge issue with the way they are slanting why this transition is happening — they are saying it is basically to help “us” out and I don’t buy that for a minute. The freed up area of the spectrum is valuable someone is making money on this and once again citizens are being shafted.
An upgrade of technology to digital will not only increase quality of signals but will prove helpful to other public services too. I see no reason that it should be delayed because new things always face acts of resistance in the beginning!!!!
I think it is good for us as Digital is good option and I think it would be good for consumer. I agree that it will make some problems but in long term it would be good for consumers.
This is such a low percentage of consumers that are ready for the transition. In all fairness, there has been lots of time to prepare - when it comes July is there going to be another deferral?