[Commentary] "I am committed to working with the Senate and House Commerce Committees and the appropriate agencies to ensure that [the digital TV] transition happens without significant disruption and inconvenience," wrote Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) in an interview with Broadcasting&Cable. But in recent weeks, countless studies and numerous witnesses before congressional committees have testified that the transition is on wobbly ground. Sen Obama offers no indication that the digital TV switch could become the technological equivalent of Katrina -- with millions of people losing their TV signals overnight. He also expresses no indication that the transition is even in trouble, despite the piling evidence. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the presumptive GOP nominee, is no better. The Arizona senator has issued the same robotic responses to questions about the transition, suggesting that consumer education is needed and the government must work with the private sector. (President Bush has also all but ignored the problem; the National Association of Broadcasters has even publicly urged the president to get more involved.) But everyone knows that. What we don't know is what our so-called leaders are going to do about ensuring that this sinking ship is righted before it's too late. The transition is scheduled for February 17, 2009 -- less than one month after the next president takes office. Whoever that might be, he better wake up and start paying attention to what could be the first major disaster in his administration. http://www.tvpredictions.com/obama061708.htm
Making no excuses for the government's handling of the digital television transition, is this really something we can hold the presidential candidates accountable for? The transition will occur, as "Swanni" notes, less than a month after the next president takes office. What promise could a candidate make now that they'd actually be able to deliver on?
Making no excuses for the government's handling of the digital television transition, is this really something we can hold the presidential candidates accountable for? The transition will occur, as "Swanni" notes, less than a month after the next president takes office. What promise could a candidate make now that they'd actually be able to deliver on?