May 6, 2008

DTV2009: How Much Is The Digital TV Transition Costing American Taxpayers?

While the digital TV transition is a massive technological change of which people must be made aware given the importance of the television medium to the American public, if you really want it put into proper perspective, just ask Popular Mechanics tech editor Glenn Derene. Derene decided to do a little number crunching, ultimately arriving at a cost to taxpayers of $1.5 billion, including the 33 million $40 converter box coupons. Yes, that's right, when it comes right down to it you're still paying full price for your digital converter box if you happen to buy one.

This led Derene to openly ask officials from the FCC, NAB and other regulatory bodies if Americans really have a right to TV? I would have to say that given tax dollars are paying for DTV2009, yes. Compare the 98% of American households that own a TV to the 86% that can read and write, and it would seem freeing up the analog spectrum for emergency alerts and education would be a smart move. But Derene points out that a pretty small minority of us actually use television for those purposes and the 2009 proposed funding for adult literacy is only $574.6 million.

Okay, so pointing out how your tax dollars are being spent are always a good way to put things into perspective. Are you happy with the way your tax dollars are being spent given some of America's other pressing issues?

Via Popular Mechanics

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