While accelerating the DTV tuner integration is a good idea, Jim Yager, the CEO of Barrington Broadcasting, told members of the House Commerce Committee that disenfranchising some 21 million households that rely on over-the air TV reception is not so smart.
“Under the draft’s hard date, viewers will either lose their television service or have to pay for converter boxes … or even worse … subscribe to pay TV … all just to keep something they currently get for free,” Yager said, testifying for NAB.
Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, has said the hard cut off date of Dec. 31, 2008 for TV stations to convert is pretty firm.
The draft legislation, sponsored by Barton and Fred Upton, R-Mich., is under discussion.
Yager: Let’s Not Obsolete TVs in 21 Million Homes
Yager: Let's Not Obsolete TVs in 21 Million Homes
