Dear Editor,
For the most part, the Jamaican consumer is uneducated and misinformed about his/her rights. Added to this, our consumer protection agencies are lacklustre and short of resources, thus greatly hampering their obligations to the consumer.
Consequently, the Jamaican consumer continues to be taken advantage of by those among us who provide goods and services. Recently, I was informed by a sales representative at a major appliance store that anyone with an analogue television two years from now will be "switched off". The term 'switch off' here means the support for analogue transmission will be stopped, allowing only digital transmission in 2015.
What is going to happen to those of us who have analogue TVs? More Jamaicans, I suspect, have analogue television sets than digital.
Digital Television (DTV) frees up parts of the broadcast spectrum. By so doing, it allows for public safety communications, and Jamaica could benefit immensely by having our police and fire department on the broadcast spectrum.
There is also a great opportunity to increase the players in the cable industry, as the spectrum space can be auctioned off to subscriber television operators. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), at a regional conference in 2006, established 2015 as the date for the analogue switch-off. However, despite this, many of our leading appliance stores in Jamaica are still selling analogue television sets to unsuspecting and unaware consumers. This is a most underhand and wicked practice, especially in light of the high cost for these appliances, more so flat-screens TVs. It is time our consumer protection agencies begin a public relations campaign aimed at informing the society why it is imperative they purchase only digital television sets.
We also need to hear from the Broadcasting Commission regarding this most important issue that will have implications for many Jamaicans.
An audit should also be done at those business places which are selling analogue TVs, and they should be urged to cease and desist from doing so.
Not many Jamaicans are aware that come 2015 their analogue television sets will be 'switched off'.
The international community is moving to digital transmission for many reasons. Digital transmission allows for better use of available frequency resources allowing other services such as Wi-Fi access to be transmitted over the same airwaves.
Secondly, digital transmission provides for better television viewing experience, as it provides crystal clear pictures and superior audio quality.
Finally, digital transmission adds the ability for interactive television and multiple programming choices, called multicasting.
There is a tendency for us to sit idly by as the world moves ahead. However, let us break from that tradition and culture and get our house in order. As a society, we have less than two years to join the international community in this bold and innovative move in the realm of entertainment.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
Analogue TV time is running out
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For the most part, the Jamaican consumer is uneducated and misinformed about his/her rights. Added to this, our consumer protection agencies are lacklustre and short of resources, thus greatly hampering their obligations to the consumer.
Consequently, the Jamaican consumer continues to be taken advantage of by those among us who provide goods and services. Recently, I was informed by a sales representative at a major appliance store that anyone with an analogue television two years from now will be "switched off". The term 'switch off' here means the support for analogue transmission will be stopped, allowing only digital transmission in 2015.
What is going to happen to those of us who have analogue TVs? More Jamaicans, I suspect, have analogue television sets than digital.
Digital Television (DTV) frees up parts of the broadcast spectrum. By so doing, it allows for public safety communications, and Jamaica could benefit immensely by having our police and fire department on the broadcast spectrum.
There is also a great opportunity to increase the players in the cable industry, as the spectrum space can be auctioned off to subscriber television operators. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), at a regional conference in 2006, established 2015 as the date for the analogue switch-off. However, despite this, many of our leading appliance stores in Jamaica are still selling analogue television sets to unsuspecting and unaware consumers. This is a most underhand and wicked practice, especially in light of the high cost for these appliances, more so flat-screens TVs. It is time our consumer protection agencies begin a public relations campaign aimed at informing the society why it is imperative they purchase only digital television sets.
We also need to hear from the Broadcasting Commission regarding this most important issue that will have implications for many Jamaicans.
An audit should also be done at those business places which are selling analogue TVs, and they should be urged to cease and desist from doing so.
Not many Jamaicans are aware that come 2015 their analogue television sets will be 'switched off'.
The international community is moving to digital transmission for many reasons. Digital transmission allows for better use of available frequency resources allowing other services such as Wi-Fi access to be transmitted over the same airwaves.
Secondly, digital transmission provides for better television viewing experience, as it provides crystal clear pictures and superior audio quality.
Finally, digital transmission adds the ability for interactive television and multiple programming choices, called multicasting.
There is a tendency for us to sit idly by as the world moves ahead. However, let us break from that tradition and culture and get our house in order. As a society, we have less than two years to join the international community in this bold and innovative move in the realm of entertainment.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
Analogue TV time is running out
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