Obama's First Fault as President

It is in asking for delaying the digital TV transition.

Some people still did not get the message about the incoming conversion. Working in the TV service business, I can testify that if we delay the changeover for four years (not four months) there still will be people not ready. About 14% of adults in the U.S. cannot read. It does not take a genius to figure out that most of the "not-ready" are in this group. Then there are some old people confused with our technology rollercoaster. Those that are not ready are not -- for whatever reason - capable of managing the transition themselves; someone needs to do it for them.

If the objective were helping those still not ready for the digital TV transition, President Obama could ask that, on the national Day of Service, volunteers would go and assist those in need. By the end of the day, we could add up the numbers from the reports and we would know exactly how many people were helped that day, or at least identified as needing help with the digital TV conversion. Instead, President Obama made a lofty general appeal. Maybe some people went and did something useful; however, my impression from reports was that it boiled down to spinning the wheels and beating foam with no lasting results.

An attentive observer noticed that AT&T advocated delaying the digital TV transition, but Verizon advocated the opposite. It is worth mentioning that none of these telephone giants provide analog TV nor do they have any stake in the new off-air digital TV.

Highly paid AT&T executives would not waste their time advocating for some old ladies lost in this digital transition. They have their eyes on the new frequencies that will become available for telecommunication services like wireless internet and mobile TV, as soon as old style analog TV will cease to exist. All major telephone companies invested billions of dollars of in these projects; however, apparently, not all of them are equally ready to take full advantage of the new frequencies as soon as they will become available after the digital TV transition. In particular, it looks like AT&T is not as advanced as its competitors are. Therefore, every delay in digital TV transition gives AT&T a competitive advantage.

In this context, AT&T earned the title of the hypocrite of the month when writing in their letter to Congress: "From AT&T's perspective, a smooth transition from analog broadcast transmission to digital is in the public interest and will ultimately benefit all Americans". However, they got the President's ear.

Under the icing of the sweet talk about the public interest and ultimate benefits for all Americans, lobbyists went to work and did what lobbyists have always been doing: they convinced the President and worked out the Senate. Broadcasters that made significant investments in executing the transition on February 17 would lose money if transition would be delayed; for instance, PBS reported that it would cost them $22 million. Therefore, after the surprise Senate vote, they put their lobbyists to work on Congress, so far blocking the delay. Not even one week passed after the lofty beginning until the old style politics prevailed, marking return to politics as usual in Washington.

Most Americans are prepared for the final departure of analog TV. Those lost in transition would start screaming on February 18, and within 24 hours, 90% of them would be assisted by neighbors, family, or community organizers. Within three days, it would be over. However, the new administration told us that they would not be able to do it.

After all, the digital TV transition is not the most essential matter. However, a much larger question lingers above this experience: what else will our new President not be able to do?

Comments

[JimR]

Bravo! I agree completely. This has been in the works for years and there have been reminders and announcements every single day on TV. We could delay for four months, sure. And then what do we do when millions of people STILL haven't converted by then?

There is funding for the coupon program in the new stimulus bill. And while there may be a delay between the conversion and when the coupons become available, well, that is unfortunate. But the government is not obligated to provide all citizens with a steady supply of free TV.

If people need help after the conversion, I volunteer to offer assistance.

[Freesia2]

Hey, come on now Kowalczyk. Be fair.

For starters this is a problem that Obama inherited (among so many) and we'd all been told this was in the works for....try­ing to remember. I recall seeing infomercials about it at least 1&1/2 - 2 years ago. That everything wasn't ready is no surprise considering the way much of everything was handled during this past administration. So there are 2 things to factor in with that: 1) At the last minute, just in time for Obama to take the reins, there's an announcement that they're not ready. They knew, would have had to, that they weren't going to meet deadline. They didn't bother to tell anybody. And why weren't they ready anyway?; 2) My understanding is there weren't enough of the conversion boxes made to meet demand. Again - why not?

I just think you're laying this on President Obama and it's not really fair. And as for his day of service, it may or not have been phenomenal in work done. I haven't seen the statistics. But at least it was something. That's more than we had before. He's just getting started.

Still, I admire your concern for the older people and your revulsion at the corporate interest making sure to get their piece of the pie.

But give the man a break. This is one more inept thing foisted on him. Don't give up on him.

[TheyAllSuck]

His administration is INITIATING this DELAY. Its not the Republicans. Its his FCC guy who suggested it.

I think its a relatively trivial issue with the economy melting down, and our money flying to occupation zones, but its Obama & the Democrats.

Screw the delay. You're just tossing a favor to some dinosaur technology companies. They've been announcing this for a full year. Its only the oblivious stupid that didn't realize this was going to happen, and guess what? A huge chunk of them wouldn't care after the switchover. The ones that do, can go buy a converter or a new HDTV.

[Henryk A. Kowalczyk - Huffpost Blogger]

No one claims that we do not have enough conversion boxes. The problem supposed to be with expired coupons and money to cover them. It is not a physical limitation, but a bureaucratic one. Not mentioning that a flat 14-inch digital TV costs about $110, not much more than a conversion box. Just in case if we would run out of the conversion boxes.

Still, no one knows exactly how many people are not ready. I know a few technology savvy youngsters, who do not have a TV and use internet only. How many of them are around? I bet that they were counted as not ready for the transition.

Obama built a network of grassroots activists, which could be used to assist people needed help with digital transition.

If the previous administration did not prepare the transition well, with a very little creativity, Obama still can turn it into a smooth and successful venture. However, if he really believes that such a petty project could not be done, I would not trust him with managing $850 billion of the stimulus package.

Unless, it was not at all about poor and elderly…

[Riekang]

you lost me .. where is the proof that Obama did what they wanted? Even though he's the president .. the bill was already in the house and therefore he had no power to do anything about it's passing. Until it comes to his desk, he has empty power to do anything. So, how exactly is it his fault?

[Henryk A. Kowalczyk - Huffpost Blogger]

According to all press releases I read (some linked in my text), the Obama administration asked for the delay.

[apoyo]

You seem to miss the point that the people were promised $40 vouchers and there were not enough vouchers to go around. Maybe he was trying to do something to help the people. Maybe he has a thing about helping the people.

And what exactly is the rush to convert? So the cable companies can make more money?