On Feb. 17, the nation's television broadcast system is scheduled to go all-digital, offering more enhanced images and doing away with older analog signals.
How is digital supposed to benefit us? At least 40 percent of the time the digital signals in my area are suffering severe pixilation and signal breakup with a "no signal" message being the most consistent view I am getting.
Gene Kimmelman and his colleagues at Consumers Union respond:
It's important to note that the digital TV transition does have several benefits for consumers- primarily better picture and sound quality. In addition, public safety officials will have access to better airwaves so that first responders can become more effective at responding to national crises. However, several industries and the federal government have also profited from the transition.
Consumers Unions believes the reasons to transition are real; but that consumer rights need to be protected as we transition, and somewhere along the line, the federal government that mandated this switch lost sight of that.