[Grovenet] Get cher coupons here!! Big black market suretodevelope!! Act now!!

Wed Jan 2 08:59:39 PST 2008

You're right, of course, but a little bitter.
Happy New Year, Ron.
Ed

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <ron at cobi.biz>
To: "'Forest Grove local interests list'" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Get cher coupons here!! Big black market 
suretodevelope!! Act now!!

> You didn't realize that television was essential to the success of the US
> Government?
>
> Of course the American people deserve coupons, at the very least!
>
> TVs in every household is essential to pursue America's plan! TV is the 
> most
> effective way to deliver the messages to people that they must go out and
> use their credit cards to buy things they don't need so  they will be part
> of the "in" crowd and keep the American economy strong.
>
> How else would all of those people who never learned to create a personal
> budget have been told to go buy a house with a loan that required them to
> triple their incomes in two years, or in past years to buy a top-heavy
> dangerous gas-guzzling SUV because it was "safer", or buy a thousand other
> idiotic things.
>
> Without TV, people might not go buy the meaningless nonsense stuff to put
> under a Christmas tree. They even might question whether it was necessary
> to spend a lot of money on a dying tree to prop up in their living rooms!
>
> TV is essential to convey to the American people what they must do for 
> their
> country today. We can't afford to have them out of touch.
>
> Ron D'Eau Claire
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
> Behalf Of Bob Browning
> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 7:11 AM
> To: Grovenet
> Subject: [Grovenet] Get cher coupons here!! Big black market sure
> todevelope!! Act now!!
>
>
>
> Here you go!! Do your part to make room for the next big spectrum auction 
> so
> we can keep paying for the Iraq War off books!!
>
> bob "oh, how much fun!!" browning
>
> PS: Happy New Year!!
>
>
>
> Feds share coupons to help TV transition (AP)
>
>
> * Posted on Tue Jan 1, 2008 12:34PM EST
>
> WASHINGTON - Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday 
> to
> help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs
> that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.
>
> Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still
> gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a
> picture.
>
> That's the day the television industry completes its transition from
> old-style analog broadcasting to digital.
>
> The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be
> available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the
> National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin
> accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the
> purchase of the boxes.
>
> Viewers who have satellite or cable service will not need a box.
>
> To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at
> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/storytext/digital_tv/
> 25738908/SIG=10odl73d3;_ylt=AtQzvZL6DwIiZy..bBOJzp37L5A5/*http://www.dtv2009
> .gov> http://www.dtv2009.gov starting Tuesday. The government also has set
> up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
>
> Congress, in ordering the transition to digital broadcasting, set aside 
> $1.5
> billion for the coupon program, which will fund 33.5 million coupons and
> other costs.
>
> The giveaway basically works under the honor system.
>
> The first 22 million coupons will go to all households that request them.
> That includes a residence that gets cable service for one television but 
> has
> a spare TV that still uses an antenna, for example.
>
> The rest of the coupons, however, are meant only for those who do not
> subscribe to a pay-television service.
>
> The Nielsen Co. estimates that 14.3 million households, or about 13 
> percent
> of the 112.8 million total television households in the nation, rely on
> over-the-air television broadcasts for programming.
>
> Tony Wilhelm, director of consumer education for NTIA, said the agency
> expects to have enough coupons to satisfy demand. "We think the high 
> number
> will be 26 million," he said. "Low end is 10 million."
>
> Members of Congress have criticized both the National Telecommunications 
> and
> Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission for
> their work on the transition to digital television.
>
> In November, the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative
> arm, released a report that concluded there is "no comprehensive plan" for
> the transition.
>
> Most of the concern rests with public education campaigns. While Congress
> allocated $1.5 billion for the coupon program, only $5 million was for
> education. The Association for Public Television Stations reported in
> September that 51 percent of participants surveyed were unaware that the
> transition was taking place.
>
> Since then, the broadcast industry has announced a voluntary public
> education campaign. The FCC is circulating a plan among commissioners that
> would make public education efforts by broadcasters mandatory.
>
> Congress ordered the transition to digital broadcasting to make more
> efficient use of the publicly owned airwaves.
>
> On Jan. 24, the FCC will auction off the spectrum currently used for 
> analog
> television. That portion of the airwaves will be sold to wireless 
> providers
> and is expected to bring in as much as $15 billion. A portion of the
> spectrum will also be dedicated for use by emergency responders.
>
> ___
>
> On the Web:
>
> FCC information:
> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/storytext/digital_tv/
> 25738908/SIG=10l5q2n80;_ylt=Ajcc9DKTFGD.CCm8Q3tac8n7L5A5/*http://www.dtv.gov
> /> http://www.dtv.gov/
>
>
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