The Senate unanimously approved a four-month delay in the upcoming shutdown of analog TV broadcasts based on the arguement that too many Americans wouldn’t be ready to get digital broadcasts by February 17. What’s interesting to me is that The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the arm of the Commerce Department administering the program, is now sending out new coupons only as older, unredeemed ones expire and free up more money and had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list as of last week.
In my service area, Comcast and Verizon have definitely been trying to woo customers. However, with ever increasing rates, I’d be happier if NTIA decided to intervene in some way with helping to monitor the increasing rates television providers are charging.
Regardless, these are clearly times when services like boxee, Hulu and Netflix become more appealing. It’s time for me to make the switch to these services or slowly wean myself off television.