Has anyone questioned the legality of required converter boxes?

Not all that much of a TV watcher, I still want to watch the news and a few favorite programs. I don't have cable or satellite dish because I can't afford them. I can't imagine why it would be OK to force everyone to pay for what's always been a free service, often referred to as Air TV. Will we be charged for breathing air, as we will be for viewing it?

I had ordered the discount cards for the converter box, because I had thought that I could afford them this month. That was not the case. When you get the cards there is an expiration date where the cards must be used by that date. You are only allowed two per house hold. So unless I hit the lottery and even that I can't afford, I'm not going to have the converter box at all. I'm stocking up on books and cd's. I guess that I can still use my tv for dvd's. There are a lot of movies that I want to catch up on and there are many tv shows that are now out on dvd, both old and new. I'm refreshing my memory on how to knit. I'm looking to my crafts to start back on. The government assumes a lot of the people in this country. Do you know that when everyone was getting the $300-$600 checks a couple of months back that I didn't qualify to get one because I am on SSI? I'm disabled and because I missed the quarters that I need to collect Social Security, I only qualify for Supplemental Security Insurance. I guess because I'm on such a tight budget and disabled I wasn't good enough to participate in the windfall. Oh well. Time for a knitting lesson...lol DCMerkle

I am not sure if it is all that necessary and what if people don't want to convert, they have no choice, they have to do it anyhow. Do they care that some people may not have enough money to do convert, no they don't. I hate when things are forced on us.

I first heard about "the switch" back at the beginning of 2008, and even than I thought it was a load of crap to be forcing viewers to go all digital. But I guess at the same time, this was sort of something to be expected, since we are basically living a world of computers and digital electronics. I already have digital cable, but I keep hoping that when "the switch" happens the price of it will go down. Don't think that will happen, but paying $54.00 a month just to have television is a bit expensive in my opinion, considering I don't hardly watch it except on Mondays, Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays. I keep it on though so my kids and husband have something to watch, since they are driving me bonkers with the DVD's we do have.

I have not heard about this. Is this a requirement just in US or are other countries affected? I am curious as we do not have a digital tv. Can any tv work through these boxes? I am reluctant to buy one if I get it home and find that my tv cannot use it. Not sure how old the tv is but it would be about 5 or 6 years old. My partner owned it when we met. I certainly have no intention of buying a new tv as I do not think there is anything on tv these days that is worth the cost of buying a new one. What happens after Feb 2009? Will there be no more tv?

I agree with you. The whole thing stinks. like you, we can't afford the extra cost of cable or sattelite so we had to get the box. Then, after being told how much better the picture would be, when we got it home and hooked it up it barely works for us. It works like sattelite and we're too far away for the signal to reach us all the time, so half the time it doesn't even come in! They have a simple solution though..go spend another 30 to 40 buck on a Smart antenna. We don't plan on buying the additional antenna. If the tv won't come in, we just won't watch.

Wise1, The airwaves belong to the government (us); they are a part of the nations infrastructure just like bridges and highways.Because of the development of digital technology CONGRESS determined that all television networks would be required to convert to a digital delivery system. I remember watching the discussion through C-SPAN that occurred many years ago. The original conversion date was suppose to take place in the year 2005.

I think it kind of sucks too, that we're kind of being pressured to buy those converter boxes as well...since I don't have cable or a tv that has the HDTV feature, I'm going to have to get one of them..I already sent for and have that coupon, but at the moment don't have the extra funds to get a converter box...my coupon is good until about October in which I hope by then I can get it....I've heard complaints from people that have gotten the converter, saying they are having problems but it could be that the converters won't work probably until February when the signal does turn digital. I really don't watch that much TV to begin with...most times I pop in a DVD movie and watch that....but I would miss Oprah....LOL...or the late news...hey, then how would I get ideas for some of my discussions?

I hear you World, I am not looking forward to having to buy a converter and truthfully, if I don't get a job, we just might be one of the ones with no extra money for one.. I can live without a TV, done it before and with my computer, (especially when I get my own back), I can be happy with just that..

That's your choice, I don't think they are going to come to your house and make you watch Digital TV. I wrote an article on this for AC. Check it out. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/600749/how_to_make_your_tv_compliant_for_the.html?cat=15

Don't know if you've heard this theory. Some think that it's a way to get some advanced spying devices into our homes. Never before has anything like this been "mandated" before. If the government needs some air waves, why can't they use the HDTV air waves and leave the ones we're already using to TV? Another theory is that the TV networks all wanted this and were afraid that people would do just like you're suggesting - stop watching - if it wasn't required. I know some people who vary rarely watch TV anymore. But they still keep track of their favorite shows by catching them online.

no, i have not found it , so i think no one has questioned the legality of required converter boxes.

I know what you mean. I ordered my coupons months back, but they expired before I could save enough money for the additional $10-20 needed to get the converter box. So, now I guess I will continue to go without tv and watch dvds since the analog signal will be shut off in 2009. I can't afford cable or a $200 deposit for a satellite dish program and it sucks big time.