Yup, everything's going to plan. [Reuters]

Transition co-chair John Podesta writes to Congress: "We respectively reiterate that only legislation that includes a delay of limited and specific duration will provide Congress and the new Administration a realistic opportunity to resuscitate and modify the coupon program."

Besides all of the vested corporate interests in delaying the shutdown (or not), changing the date that has finally been pounded into the heads of many people (even my mom knows about this thing, at this point) will just create even more confusion.

The digital TV switchover should proceed next month, but with the "nightlight" program the FCC approved that'll leave a warning message up for about a month and immediate, fresh funding for the coupon program, so we can get on with this thing. [WSJ]

So here's what the Twister mat looks like, as astutely laid out by Ars' Julian Sanchez: Verizon has nearly $10 billion tied up in the floaty airwaves that'll be abandoned when analog broadcasts are turned off, on the promise they could rev up work on their superfast next-generation wireless network, LTE.

AT&T, however, joined the Consumers Union and some Congressman supporting the delay, that would, completely coincidentally, keep Verizon from speeding past them with their LTE deployment. You know, just like AT&T was concerned about the public when they asked the FCC to block the Clearwire WiMax merger over the summer. WiMax company Clearwire needs as much time as they can get to roll out their network and would also benefit from a delay—which is something of a conflict of interest, since a Clearwire exec has been a generous Obama supporter and met with Obama tech advisors.

But the delay might not happen: A proposal in the House would dump another $650 million into the bankrupt converter box coupon program, which was the most substantial issue provoking the delay. The FCC also approved a "night light" measure that would broadcast a notice about the switch from Feb. 18 (the day of the shutoff) until March 19 and how to get a converter box. It won't be broadcast on all stations, but stations can opt in—though it's not cheap, with one station estimating running the broadcast will cost at least $7000 for power alone.

A delay would totally cause consumer confusion. No matter when the transition happens, someone, somewhere, will see their TV go black and wonder why. The nightlight is solid compromise, and something that should've been in place before. Besides, when you try to delay the progress parade, it doesn't really slow it down, it just makes the route more screwed up. [Ars, PC Mag]

Using an electronic converter sourced from the US, a specialist shop put the mahogany-cased telly back on the airwaves for around $400. They also replaced 13 old capacitators, the brightness control, and added a lead in order to prevent the tube from burning out.

Despite the 21st-century makeover, Mr Howard's set is still not a thoroughly modern telly. It takes 10 seconds to warm up and still emits what he refers to as an "old TV smell" from the warming of the paxolin resin insulators. [Daily Mail]

Yep, the Open Mobile Video Coalition wants the Advanced Television Systems Committee to explore three technologies we've maybe only talked in passing before:
• LG/Harris' MPH (Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld)
• Samsung/Rohde & Schwarz's A-VSB
• Thomson/Micronas' variant of the European standard DVB-Handheld

So yes, if the plan is implemented, it means we will someday catch up to where Korea and Europe already are. Since big CE players are already involved in these technologies elsewhere, it wouldn't be costly for them to add the functionality to US product lines—a premium of around $10 per device.

For broadcasters already dealing with the digital switchover, adding $100K in hardware to their terrestrial broadcasting stations wouldn't be such a big deal, especially since it would help them tap into potentially $2 billion in ad revenue. (Unlike cable, local broadcasters are dealing with big revenue falls every quarter, including a 17% dip at the end of 2007.)

The question is, would you watch the stuff even if it were free? Qualcomm's MediaFLO is already an option with Verizon and AT&T, but I don't know many (any?) people who sign up for it. Also, who relies on local TV anymore? Gone are the days when Ron Burgundy and the KVWN Channel Four News Team reigned supreme. [AP]

I really hate the condescending way your writers try to BULLY older people into buying a new TV instead of getting these boxes. First, many can't afford them, so they shouldn't be insulted for being poor - forget the fact that they probably don't have the internet either. It may take them 3-4 years to save for the TV. Second, I use my laptop computer to watch TV all the time, using a Hauppauge tuner, because my 58" HDTV can't seem to bring in some channels like 15, where the Maury Show and Judge Maria Lopez are my morning fare. I want a digital to analog converter box to hook up to the analog only tuner so I can continue to watch computer TV, because it's cheaper than a laptop digital tuner and nothing is wrong with my tuner to warrant junking it. Plus, we have a 53" projection TV in the bedroom and I can't afford to buy several expensive HDTV's when we basically only watch the late news back there, so a box IS the smarter choice for that TV, too, until prices go down. So tell your writers to THINK before they go insulting and bullying, because there are many good reasons people might need a converter box even with cable, as I have. Multiple TV homes might not want to spend a fortune just because some idiot calls them "grannies" for being a smart consumer. Wendy

What are you going to do when the transition hits? Get a new TV, or get a converter for your old set?

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"Those that really are going to go the converter box, they're not going to buy a TV anyway. We're talking about a $40 converter box that's going to downgrade a digital to an analog signal—I think, some people, it's good enough for them, but they were not going to be TV purchasers from Sony anyway. So I don't see that being a major effect in terms of HD televisions being sold in this country." [emphasis added]

Sony isn't the only one playing hands-off with Ma and Pa Kettle—since it really address the lowest rung of the market, and mainly older people, it's being swooped on by companies who control old-school brands like RCA, Magnavox (Philips) and Zenith (LG).

700 MHz auction and analog-to-digital TV switchover
• Martin says the neat stuff he saw at CES last year led in part to the 700MHz auction open-access rules
• He thinks it's "possible" we'll see 700MHz devices within a year—which is why the "hard" analog cutoff date of Feb. 19, 2009 is important
• Speaking of, the cutoff date is engraved in frickin' stone, people—no extensions
• He has no interest in "any particular company winning," just wants someone to make the minimum bid that would enforce open access
• Regarding big bidder Verizon, Martin said it "may win" the auction (Freudian slip?)
• Since poor broadband penetration in rural areas is the main reason we're so far behind Asia, the 700MHz will serve as a good bridge, and might even become the new broadband platform

Cable
• Neither Martin nor CEA chief Gary Shapiro have any love for cable—no wonder the FCC's been reaming them
• "We've seen a signficant decrease in prices" in everything the FCC regulates except cable—that's gonna change
• It is "critical" that consumer-electronic devices are able to attach to cable networks and do two-way communication without a set-top box (i.e., two-way CableCARD is mandatory)
• Proposed pay-per-channel cable is a "real market solution" to cable sucking balls and "I'm doing everything I can" to make it happen
• Independent content providers such as NFL Network need to be able to get their shows on cable

Comcast's Alleged Blockage of BitTorrent
• He's going to investigate it (FCC investigates "all complaints") and make sure no one is being blocked from access in a "discriminatory way"
• If a company engaged in "reasonable network practice" for traffic management they should be honest about it

Satellite Radio and TV
• The FCC will look at XM and Sirius merger proposal "soon," but "isn't sure" it'll clear all the hurdles—awaiting on Department of Justice
• Regarding a potential, but by no means proposed, merger of DirecTV and Dish, he doesn't know whether the XM-Sirius thing would set a precedent; at the bare minimum they'd have to enforce the same price protection XM and Sirius are proposing

Broadband Penetration
• "We've done some very significant steps over the last three years" toward increasing the options for broadband—in particular letting telcos get into IPTV so they'd invest in fiber optic pipes; busting up cable apartment contracts, etc.
• Wants to redefine the term "broadband" to higher speeds—200Kbps is not broadband and people are getting hosed

DRM
• "We need to make sure that consumers have fair use, reasonable expectations" that they can "copy things and use them themselves" which is "not only fair but important, and we need to continue to protect that."
• "I do believe that fair use" and protecting what "consumers are able to do in their home on their devices" is the "guiding principle," and that's a "reasonable and fair" expectation

In sum, more openness, more competition, more consumer protections—in theory. It could be a great year for us across the board at the expense of closed industries, particularly cable and wireless. I actually feel like the government is working for us for a change.

[Keep My TV]

According to Ars, the warning-sticker rule went into effect on May 25:

Any company selling analog-only TV sets [must] display a prominent "Consumer Alert" in "a size of type large enough to be clear, conspicuous and readily legible" that is located on the set itself or immediately adjacent to it.

As you may have read here, Best Buy got wise to this whole thing and decided to stop selling analog TVs altogether. Maybe that was just easier than training thousands of "blue shirts" to put warning stickers on the right TV sets. [Ars Technica]

Here's what Best Buy SVP of electronics, Mike Vitelli, said in a statement:

"We are committed to helping people understand the digital television transition, and exiting the analog video business is one way we can help avoid confusion."