From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Sep 7, 2006 12:27 PM
Subject: Public Submission

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Public Comments on Implementation and Administration of a Coupon Program for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes:========

Title: Implementation and Administration of a Coupon Program for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes
FR Document Number: E6-11754
Legacy Document ID:
RIN: 0660-AA16
Publish Date: 07/25/2006 00:00:00
Submitter Info:

Comment Info: =================

General Comment:There should be no economic need test for converter box availability OTHER
THAN the fact that this mandatory transitioning will impact all consumers at some
point in time. The boxes should NOT be limited to folks without cable or satellite
receivers, since many of these same people turn to their over-the-air (OTA)
antenna systems when storms (esp. hurricanes in Fla.) obliterate satellite signals
or power outages affect cable or satellite systems, whether remotely or locally,
and when cables are torn apart. Likewise, satellite users should not be forced to
pay their providers extra for local station coverage just because the government
forcing these changes has now decided they can afford to pay $60 or more per
year for local channel satellite coverage!
If you were considering household income, you should note that a
disproportionate number of lower income homes unwisely spend their money on
entertainment, which includes cable or satellite service, and to restrict your boxes
to folks withOUT cable or satellite service would be to force those lower income
households to subscribe to local channels or else remain ignorant of local news or
programming. If your goal is to lessen the import of local programming in favor of
more limited and global sources of news and programs, then your proposal would
be valid; otherwise, it is at best, a classic example of the government shooting
itself in the foot, once again. At worst, it represents someone's desire to shift the
scope and control of television programming to a national level. Neither is in the
best interests of the citizenry. If enough 'converter box cash' was not taken from
taxpayers and set aside for this little project, then be honest about it and stop
rationalizing artificial methods to restrict its availability to all taxpayers.