Why do americans have to switch over to high definition television by 2009?

Question

I already know is a government mandate, what i want to know is why the government all of a sudden needs channels 2-13.

Also, by around Feb. 3 2009 you will not be able to access any channels unless you have hd-tv...so it is going to happen that quick. They already moved the deadline from late last year to next year, so I don't think they want to move it back again. So, once again, I don't want to know when or who, but why.

Ok people, once again I already know all of that. What I want to know is WHY does the government want to take over channels 2-13? I don't need to know the difference between analoge and digital, I don't need to know when, or who is taking the channels away. All I need to know is why the government is taking these actions...that is it. So don't answer the question if you are just going to provide me with information I already have, it is a waste of my time, and it just makes you look like a raging idiot for adding informationt that is not only staring me and millions of other in the face, but you as well.

Ok, I really don't appreciate people making me out to be an ***. I asked a question, and people answered with information I already had in my original question. Sorry if some people cannot read a question and anwser it properly without giving unneccessary information...all I wanted to know was why. Now I do, so thank you misunderstood for finally answering the question I asked instead of giving me useless info that I already had and didn't ask for...but I have to say that I don't appreciate you suggesting that I am ungrateful for the needed information, all I was saying is that you kept on giving me information that was already included in my question, so therefore completely useless to me.

Answer 1

You keep changing the question, so I don't know if I'm giving you the information you want.

Once the switchover to digital is complete, the VHF frequencies (2-13) will no longer be used. (See note below.) Digital broadcasting uses UHF frequencies only. The FCC will then designate the VHF frequencies for other communications purposes.

As the FCC says: Converting to DTV will free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used for other important services, such as public and safety services (police and fire departments, emergency rescue), and advanced wireless services. ( http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html )

Also, TV stations must give up all of their analog frequencies, both VHF and UHF. When digital television was in the planning stages, broadcasters balked at paying for their digital frequencies, so they agreed to return their analog frequencies back to the FCC once the conversion to digital was complete. Otherwise, the digital frequencies would have been a free handout to the media corporations. If this agreement hadn't been made, it's unlikely we'd be seeing much digital TV today.

Basically, the FCC gave the digital frequencies to the broadcasters for free in exchange for the broadcasters returning their analog frequencies back to the FCC.

*On a digital broadcast, the channel number displayed on your screen is not the number of the actual UHF channel that the station is broadcasting on. Channels numbers are names rather than frequency designations.

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AI, keep in mind that your question will soon begin showing up in search engine results all over the world. Many people who read the question and it's answers may appreciate the additional information even if YOU are ungrateful for it.

Answer 2

Let me add to misunder...'s answer. Once the analog spectrum is returned, the FCC will auction off those frequencies to other communications companies.

Note: misunder... answered your questions -- your original question and the one you asked in the additional details. What more do you want? If it's not the answer you're looking for, I'm sure you can find your answer at www.fcc.gov

Since you're new here, you should read and understand the Yahoo! Answers Community Guidelines:
http://answers.yahoo.com/info/community_guidelines.php

Answer 3

I heard something about that but I didn't pay much attention. I don't watch TV. I only watch DVDs and VHS.

Answer 4

becouse of the new law that was passed in regards to tv signals

Answer 5

I don't know if it will be that quick, but there will definately be a change in the market.

Answer 6

By that time, I will no longer care what's on tv. its all garbage anyways.