Digital TV cutover for New York should be delayed, Congressman says
October 21st, 2005Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) wants New York to get an extension of the digital TV cutover date:
“Though it is trivial compared to the enormous loss of life, the World Trade Towers also housed most of New York’s TV station transmitters, pushing New York years back on their ability to handle the digital transition,” Engel says. “Because of the September 11th tragedy, New York City broadcasters are now using the Empire State Building which is hundreds of feet shorter than both the future Freedom Tower and former World Trade Center.
“It seems that Congress has forgotten its pledge to help New York recover from the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. If this waiver is denied, hundreds of thousands of people could be without free, over-the-air television signals.”
Engel has previously urged delays for the nationwide cutoff of analog TV broadcasts. He is also one of 20 House members (or “20 suicidal congresscritters,” in the words of Cory Doctorow) doing Hollywood’s bidding by signing onto the “broadcast flag.”
While saying the December 31, 2008, date in a draft House bill is too soon for the city, he offers no new deadline.
• Links: press release, Boing Boing
• Also: A mile from Empire State Building transmitter, lousy DTV reception