Digital delay overthrown…the countdown is nearly done…

Let’s think about this. A four-month delay wouldn’t burden those companies any more than the requirement that all TV stations go digital by February 17th. Most of the TV stations have been broadcasting two signals for well-over a year. That’s so they could be in compliance and positive that it would function well by the time this day rolled around. I hardly think a measly four months is going to burden the cell phone companies.

Let me add that there will be some digital signals on analog channels as of that date, so don’t try to get me hyped up about the cell phones. In Pittsburgh, once WPXI-TV (11) moves over to 48 for keeps, WPCW-TV (19) will be flashing onto 11. And WQED-TV (13) which is broadcasting digital on 38 right now, will be flashing back to 13 while putting WQEX-TV (16) (whose current digital home is 26) on 38. In the Ohio Valley, both WTOV-TV (9) and WTRF-TV (7) are expected to switch their current digital signals back over to their old analog homes in two weeks. Those are just mere examples I’m sure.

Spare me the whining, please.

If you’re one of the 6-odd million people without cable and not ready for the switch to digital transmission, you darn well better get ready or come February 17 you’re going to be hearing emergency dispatch on your TV. Well, ok, slight exaggeration, but I’m telling you it’s not going to be long. You might have your Congressional Representative to blame, so you better bark up that tree as soon as you can…if you really care to. If you’re confused about this transition now, you can thank the Republicans who said the delay would confuse consumers. So at least you won’t get more confused. But further reason is that the wireless companies and emergency services which are supposedly chomping at the bit to take up the analog TV spectrum would be burdened.

Hold the cell phone, Charlie. (Read on)