The Gov't is making it manatory for HDTV to be used in every household. Do you think this is unconstitutional?

Question

I just wanna know...

Answer 1

I find nothing in my copy of the Constitution (which I carry in my pocket) that says ANYTHING that could be even vaguely construed to suggest that the US Government cannot mandate ANY kind of standard it wishes to, providing that standard does not infringe on individual rights. For the record, you have no right to continue using a technology that the Free Market deems a "dinosaur". You almost sound as though you think the Government should have involved itself with Ford's invention of the "mass production line", since it hampered folks who wanted to keep riding horses!

Have you READ your country's Constitution? It's a wonderful document...

Answer 2

Nope. This is one case where the Interstate Commerce clause is legitimately used. The FCC has control of the airwaves. If you have cable, you don't need to do a thing; if you are using an antenna, you will need to obtain a converter box (these are being subsidized) or get a new TV. If you can afford it, get a new one; the picture will be noticeably better.

Answer 3

You are incorrect, the government is not requiring everyone to get HDTV. It is only requiring over the air broadcasts to become digital television (high-def is a form of digital tv but there is also standard definition.) Check my source for more info.

Answer 4

It's the same thing they did with cable years ago. They scrambled local signals so everyone would have to pay for cable in order to get a clear picture of local channels.
Against the law? Yes. But since the government and legislators receive kickbacks, they think it isn't.

Answer 5

Indeed, you are a bit confused about what the government is requiring. (Digital, not high-def.)

That said, however, the very existence of the FCC is unconstitutional. The federal government has never had constitutional authority to regulate the airwaves.

Answer 6

They aren't making HD mandatory. They are getting rid of regular broadcast tv and going to digital broadcast only. So people that use rabbit ears on their TV won't be able to use them anymore.It is a better signal. If you have cable it won't effect you but if you use rabbit ears you have to buy a converter that the goverment is giving a rebate for. Eventually, HD will be all we have becasue that is the only tv that they will sell.

Answer 7

ok call me paranoid but, with the technological advances in digital devices and Internet ,cable,phone, and everything else digital combining. i think this will not only give big television oriented business the upper hand , but big brother i think has found yet another way into our private lives. next they will be recording our activities that we don't think anyone else can see (sex ) listen in our own living rooms to use to prosecute us. like i said just call me paranoid. it's coming. how far away do you think making an intenet call while sitting and watching tv is from reality. the phone will be in the tv. so will their listening and viewing devices.

Answer 8

the only thing the government is doing is making the local tv stations turn off the analog tv signal that they use to transmit tv signals and replace it with a digital tv signal.most local tv stations wont even transmit a digital signal higher than the standard resolution of 480i.

Answer 9

It's not mandatory, but if you don't you won't be able to receive analogue broadcasts anymore in the near future.

Answer 10

The government has been known for violating peoples rights. But then they can do what they want and there ain't nothing you can do about it.