Got Digital? You Will

Buried in the United Senate's budget bill that narrowly passed this week was a requirement that television broadcasters switch from analog to digital signals by early 2009.

Consumers with older television sets are expected to benefit from $1.5 billion that has been earmarked to help offset the cost of new televisions. Media sources report that satellite or digital cable subscribers will be unaffected.

Despite the huge amount of funds available under the proposed program (which still must be approved by the House of Representatives), consumer advocates are hopping mad.

“The consumer compensation program established in this program is unworkable, unfair and unacceptable to consumers,” said Jeannine Kenney of Consumers Union. “It provides only a fraction of the funds needed to compensate consumers for the costs of a digital transition they never asked for. And by requiring consumers to jump through restrictive hoops to request vouchers, those who most need compensation will be the least likely to receive it.”

According to Consumers Union, more than $2 billion extra will be required for all Americans to switch to the new digital signals, even by 2009.

posted by Consumer Help Web Editorial Team at 11:12 PM |