Saying Audios to Microsoft Money is the subject of this Big B File.
When I opened Microsoft money, I got the following notice (which was a complete surprise to the Big B Files).
Important notice: Microsoft Money Plus will not be available for purchase after June 30, 2009. All purchased Money Plus products must be activated prior to Jan. 31, 2011.
With banks, brokerage firms and Web sites now providing a range of options for managing personal finances, the consumer need for Microsoft Money Plus has changed. After suspending annual updates of Money Plus in 2008, Microsoft is announcing today that we will no longer offer Microsoft Money Plus for purchase after June 30, 2009.
We would like to thank the many dedicated users who have been enthusiastic supporters of Microsoft Money over the years, as well as our partner financial institutions who helped pioneer a digital vision of financial management.
Microsoft remains committed to helping customers chart a course to financial well-being. The MSN Money Web site will continue to provide personal finance information and advice plus comprehensive market news and quotes. We will continue to evolve and enhance the online MSN offering in the coming months.
Current Money Plus customers who have questions or concerns can find additional information here.
I have emailed Commerce Bank, which where I bank at, for their reaction on this and I’ll let you know what their reaction is to this news from Microsoft. I often preferred it to Quicken and other software because of its ease of use and customer friendliness. It will be sad to see it go.
And that is the Big B Files. Click on the comments link below and tell me what you think . . . I’m Bryan Hewing.
The St. Louis Tea Party and the Tea Party Movement across the Nation is the subject of this Big B File.
Wednesday evening, I attended the Tea Party at Keiner Plaza in St. Louis, MO . . . which according to US. Park Rangers estimates, attracted around 10,000 people including myself. When you look at the pictures to the right and below, you will see that people kept coming after the event got started. It was a grassroots movement . . .it was not just a group of people of one race, creed, ethnicity, or political party, but instead it was a grassroots movement of people of many races, creeds, ethnicities, and political parties…all there at this rally to say that they have had enough and are not going to take it anymore.
Contrary to what the Ancient Media says, the movement was started and all the Tea Parties to date have been organized not by organized groups, but by individuals. In the case of the St. Louis Tea Party, the movement and the rally were organized by two individuals, Mr. Bill Hennessy and Ms. Dana Loesch. Bill manages software applications for several Fortune 500 clients, primarily in the financial fields. He has more than 15 years experience as a technologist and manager (courtesy of Bill Hennesy’s website). Dana Loesch blogs at Mamalogues.com and hosts her own radio show, The Dana Show, on KFTK 97.1 FM Talk. She has written for corporate parenting communities and major-market publications such as St. Louis Magazine, The Riverfront Times, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She has won numerous awards and honors and is a guest columnist for a number of publications (courtesy of Dana’s website, Mamalogues.com). The whole movement can trace its roots . .or inspiration, if you will . . .to this on air rant by CNBC Chicago Mercantile reporter Rick Santelli on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” back on February 19th.
I watched the Ancient Media to how see how they covered the St. Louis Tea Party. Among the national media outlets, Fox News Channel was the most fair. The Others . . . .on the other hand . . . were not even trying anything close at being objective when it came to being objective and fair in their reporting. Just look at how they attacked the tea parties and Fox News Channel, who is beating them in the ratings according the Neilson Media Research.
As Far as St. Louis TV Stations, KMOV was mostly fair in their news story . . . the video portion (click here to see it), even though the lone protestor they was referring to was actually Jamie Allman who is the morning talk show host at 97.1 FM Talk in St. Louis in disguise as a far-left protester (commonly referred to by some people as a “moonbat”). If you go to KMOV’s Website, they are portraying it as a conservative organized event, which as the Big B Files said before it was not. Allman also pulled a good one on KSDK, which after watching the story they did, they even more biased in against the tea party attendees than KMOV was and were following the same line as their national network counterparts.
The coverage was pretty fair overall for KTVI and KPLR…which are basically one news operation…even though they drew the ire of the speakers and the crowd for a story Charles Jaco did for Fox 2 that contained numerous factual errors and the Big B Files is very disappointed in Mr. Jaco for this story. After the protest, the Fox 2 News Director apologized over the episode (courtesy of the St. Louis Tea Party website)[aa and ( ) are for grammatical corrections].
* KTVI Fox 2 News Director (Audrey Prywitch): “You deserve major kudos! That’s the most people I’ve ever seen in Kiener Plaza, except, maybe, before a Cardinal’s World Series game.”
Congratulations to each of you. Those who want to substitute their judgment for yours and your money for their IOUs noticed; they’re breaking their necks trying so hard to look the other way!
More on KTVI
That news director explained that the Jaco piece contained factual errors. They apologized on the 10:00 news last night. His tone was sincere. He(She) also apologized to all of you for bumping the Tea Party story at 9:00. He(She) explained that the director was faced with a terrible fire story that included a fatality. He(She) said that bumping our story was a mistake, and apologized.
When challenged that his(her) station committed two major errors that hurt our Tea Party in 3 days, He(She) acknowledged that the appearance was bad. ”I have told my people that. We made a series of bad decisions, and the people responsible are paying consequences. Mr. Jaco is aware of the seriousness of his mistake.”
KTVI has aired (or will have after tonight) 22 stories on this tea party. While one of those stories was terribly inaccurate and defamatory, the manager’s apology seems sincere. Let’s thank him(her) for his her honesty and move on.
There were a number of people with signs there at the St. Louis Tea Party, with one equating President Barak Obama as a Communist and others were referring to him as a socialist as a result of his policies. The Big B Files says that Communist is going over the line while Socialist is not too far of a stretch, while it would be more appropriate for the Socialist term to be applied to President Barak Obama’s policies instead of Obama himself.
There was one person in particular who was wearing a couple of signs who got my attention. Nellya Ivanchuk, who lives in downtown St. Louis, MO. She immigrated from Russia 17 years ago in 1992 . . . what was then the former Soviet Union and she left there when it was under communism and came to this country because of all the freedoms that we in this country enjoy. It was all those freedoms that attracted her to come here for a better life and she is now afraid of what might happen here in the next few years. She is more of an American than those of us who were born here are.
This tea party movement has shocked people in government, the Ancient media, and even talk show hosts like Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham and others. The tea parties were started by average citizens…not Special interests, political parties, liberal or conservative groups…nor anyone connected to those groups as the Ancient Media likes to proclaim constantly a month later.
In the case if St Louis Tea Party, it was started by two individuals, one of whom who just happens to host a radio talk show. Average citizens just wanting to put in their two cents worth in to take full advantage of their right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and that is this movement is . . .people whom are exercising their first amendment rights. This should be looked upon as a resounding, powerful, and positive testament of the constitution in this country at work. As the founding fathers said, “The government of the people, by the people and for the people”. Without this, there is no way our beloved country can stand for long.
The Tea Party movement should be looked at as an example of what is right about the United States of America and why . . as Sean Hannity well put it, “this is the greatest nation on God’s green Earth” . . . and why so many people like Nellya Ivanchuk, want to come here to the good ole USA.
And that is the Big B Files. Click on the comments link below and tell me what you think . . . I’m Bryan Hewing.
It is not Currently known whether Governor Pat Quinn will sign or Veto the legislation if it makes it to his desk. You can click here to view the version of the letter that you can use for Pro-Life Members of the Illinois General Assembly or you can click here to view the version of the letter that you can use for Pro-Choice Members of the Illinois General Assembly.
The Bill . . . the Illinois Reproductive Health and Access Act . . . passed out of the Human Services Committee by a 5 to 2 voice vote on March 13th, and is awaiting a vote by the full Illinois House. The following groups are members of a group formed to try to defeat FOCA in Illinois (courtesy of StopIllinoisFOCA.com - the Internet arm of the Coalition To Defeat HB2354:
Bishop George Lucas of Springfield, IL Diocese wrote the following letter in the Catholic Times and to All Parishes in the Diocese of Springfield, IL:
Passage of HB 2354 would endanger right of conscience
Written by Bishop Lucas
03/22/2009
Dear Friends in Christ,I write to you about a serious threat to our freedom to practice our Catholic faith in the state of Illinois.
Bishop George Lucas
A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly (HB 2354, the Reproductive Health and Access Act) that would remove the right to conscientious objection to abortion and related procedures for all health care workers. For 30 years we have been told by the courts and by legislators that abortion is a rare but necessary tragedy and that abortion providers should not face legal punishment. Now some are proposing that abortion is a human right, and worse, that those who would try to qualify it in any way or who will not provide it should be punished under law.
This proposed law will drive Catholic doctors and nurses from health care and will make it impossible for Catholic hospitals to continue to be places where life is always respected, where no one is deliberately killed. In our country, we recognize conscientious objection to war, even though defending one’s country is a noble and moral act. We recognize the conscientious objection of those doctors who will not cooperate in administering the death penalty, even for terrible crimes. Some Illinois legislators want to take away conscientious objection to abortion.
The enemies of human life and religious freedom in Illinois are well funded. Pressure on legislators is great and is increasing. I ask you to contact your representative this week to express your dismay that the Illinois legislature, elected democratically, would debate a bill that removes freedom of conscientious decision-making for health care workers as a condition of their employment. Surely people of good will can agree that the State should not come between a health care worker and God.
Unfortunately we have had to live with the fact that our laws no longer protect unborn human life. We cannot live with the prospect that our laws will no longer protect conscience. In 1844, Abraham Lincoln broke with his own party, the often anti-Catholic Whigs, and proposed: “Resolved, that the guarantee of the rights of conscience, as found in our Constitution, is most sacred and inviolable, and one that belongs no less to the Catholic, than to the Protestant; and that all attempts to abridge or interfere with these rights, either of Catholic or Protestant, directly or indirectly, have our decided disapprobation, and shall ever have our most effective opposition.” Illinois HB 2354 betrays the legacy of Lincoln in his home state.
Catholics and all people of good will should work to ensure its defeat. I also ask you to thank those legislators who are courageously opposing HB 2354 and to pray for those who are supporting it. To contact your legislator, please go to www.ilga.gov, or call (312) 368-1066.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend George J. Lucas
Bishop of Springfield in Illinois
If the bill passes in IL, the Far-Left will be emboldened like never before to get FOCA passed nationally.
Tax cheaters in positions of power, Americans’ anger, and a taxpayer’s letter to the IRS is the subject of this Big B File.
With all the controversy over a number of controversies involving the Barak Obama Adminstration in relation to the Tax Cheating of a number of nominees and a few cabinet officials in the past two months, and the unprecidented massive spending by Congress…many Americans, including yours truely (and jusifiably so) have been angered over this like never before. Mr. Ed Barnett of Wichita Falls, Texas wrote the following letter to the IRS in Times Record News Newspaper in Wichita Falls, Texas:
Dear IRS,
I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to pay taxes owed April 15, but all is not lost.
I have paid these taxes: accounts receivable tax, building permit tax, CDL tax, cigarette tax, corporate income tax, dog license tax, federal income tax, unemployment tax, gasoline tax, hunting license tax, fishing license tax, waterfowl stamp tax, inheritance tax, inventory tax, liquor tax, luxury tax, Medicare tax, city, school and county property tax (up 33 percent last 4 years), real estate tax, social security tax, road usage tax, toll road tax, state and city sales tax, recreational vehicle tax, state franchise tax, state unemployment tax, telephone federal excise tax, telephone federal state and local surcharge tax, telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, telephone state and local tax, utility tax, vehicle license registration tax, capital gains tax, lease severance tax, oil and gas assessment tax, Colorado property tax, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico sales tax, and many more that I can’t recall but I have run out of space and money.
When you do not receive my check April 15, just know that it is an honest mistake. Please treat me the same way you treated Congressmen Charles Rangel, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and ex-Congressman Tom Daschle and, of course, your boss Timothy Geithner. No penalties and no interest.
P.S. I will make at least a partial payment as soon as I get my stimulus check.
Ed Barnett
Wichita Falls
With people like TreasurySecretary Timothy Geithner (IRS Director answers to the Treasury Secretary) who have cheated for al least three years, this letter very humerously and precisely expresses the view of the Big B Files and millions of Americans who feel that if these people can basically get away with not paying taxes and penalties…not to mention being nominated for and/or being confirmed into high positions of power in the U.S. Government, why should we pay our taxes if they don’t do it themselves.
And that’s the Big B Files. Click on the comments link below and tell me what you think . . . I’m Bryan Hewing
It is not Currently known whether Governor Pat Quinn will sign or Veto the legislation if it makes it to his desk. You can click here to view the version of the letter that you can use for Pro-Life Members of the Illinois General Assembly or you can click here to view the version of the letter that you can use for Pro-Choice Members of the Illinois General Assembly.
Archbishop Emertis Raymond Burke and his successor as Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri Archdiocese is the subject of this Big B File.
On June 27th, 2008, it was announced that Archbishop Raymond Burke was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the new Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Roman Catholic Church’s equivalent of Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. At that moment, he ceased being the Archbishop of St. Louis, MO (photo on the right courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com).
The Big B Files Reminds everyone that nobody knows who the new Archbishop of St. Louis will be before the official announcement is made by the Vatican, with the exception of the Holy Father (Pope Benedict XVI) himself and God. When you try to come with whom you think the new Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri Archdiocese will be, the Big B Files believes you the following factors should be taken into consideration:
Archbishop Emertis Raymond Burke himself - Keep in mind that at at the press conference, the Archbishop said that he would be consulted by Pope Benedict XVI himself on who the new St. Louis Archbishop will be. The Short List will more than likely include include the Bishops Archbishop Raymond Burke suggested to the Holy Father, which leads me to factor number two.
Archbishop Emertis Raymond Burke’s Views and Stances – it is impossible the next Archbishop will be exactly like Archbishop Burke ….we do not clone people (Thank God) and there is only one Archbishop Raymond Burke. It would more be someone who has stances and views on moral issues, including the application of Cannon Law, closely aligned to (if not exactly like) Archbishop Burke.
Was Never a St. Louis Archdiocesan Priest - Of All the Priests who have served as Archbishop of St. Louis, not a single one was ever ordained and served as a Diocesan Priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. All the St. Louis Archdiocesan priests who have gone on to become Bishops and lead Dioceses have done so someplace else other than St Louis.
Using the above factors, the Big B Files believes that the following Bishops (among others) can be ruled out as possible replacement for Archbishop Raymond Burke.
Bishop George Lucas (Springfield, IL Diocese) - Bishop Lucas has led the Springfield, IL Diocese since 1999. I have had the pleasure to know Bishop Lucas since shortly after his arrival. Before becoming Bishop in Springfield, Bishop Lucas was the Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, the official Seminary for the St. Louis Archdiocese …More.
Bishop Robert W. Finn (Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO Diocese) - Has led the Diocese ofKansas City-St. Joseph, MO Diocese since 2005 and has become one of the most outspoken bishops in the United States, next to Archbishop Burke. Before coming to Kansas City, MO, Bishop Finn was the Director of Continuing Formation of Priests and Editor of The St. Louis Review (the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Louis) …More.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan (Milwaukee, WI {soon to be Archbishop of New York, NY}) -Click here for more on Archbishop Dolan.
The Big B Files believes that the replacement for Archbishop Burke will be a bishop who will take stands very close to, if not the same as, Archbishop Raymond Burke. The pastoral methods will be close to those of Archbishop Burke, as well as the application of the Code of Cannon Law (CCC). Some examples include Bishop Robert Baker of Birmingham, AL Diocese and Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO (if Pope Benedict XVI decides to change precedent and appoint him). Hopefully, the Holy Father will appoint a new Archbishop for St. Louis soon (Click here for Archbishop Burke’s farewell to the St. Louis Archdiocese).
Hey . . . look on the bright side. It was almost two years (one year and ten months) from the time Cardinal Edward Egan submitted his Resignation (Retirement) Letter to Pope Benedict XVI until Archbishop Timothy Dolan was appointed to replace Cardinal Egan . . . try waiting that long for a new Archbishop to be named to your Archdiocese! And that’s the Big B Files. Click on the comments link below and tell me what you think . . . I’m Bryan Hewing.
The Freedom of Choice Act is the subject of this Big B File.
I am so concerned about the Passage of this Big B File that I sent the following letter to my representatives in Congress, Senator Kit Bond, Congressman Lacy Clay, Senator Claire McCaskill (bold Print included in letters to Congressman Lacy Clay & Senator Claire McCaskill):
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Dear Senator Kit Bond, Congressman Lacy Clay, Senator Claire McCaskill,
Recently, President Barak Obama has indicated that he would sign the Freedom of Choice if it gets to his desk. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Ted Kennedy have expressed their eagerness to pass it.
I would like to get your responses to the following questions….
Are you for taking away the rights of states? According to a legal analysis done on FOCA for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which says the following:
As a general matter, if FOCA were enacted, it would wipe out a very large number of existing state laws on abortion, substantially impede the ability of states to regulate abortion, and override nearly 40 years of jurisprudential experience on the subject of abortion. FOCA does this for several reasons.
First, FOCA states that the decision whether to have an abortion is a “fundamental” right. Under existing case law, a decision to have an abortion is not a fundamental right as it was under Roe. In 1992, seven justices rejected that view and concluded that the Court’s earlier decisions under Roe had too severely and improperly restricted the states’ power to regulate abortion. Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 873-87 (1992) (O’Connor, Kennedy, Souter, J1.) (concluding that the Court’s earlier decisions had gone “too far” and that “[..not all governmental intrusion [into abortion] is of necessity unwarranted”); id. at 944 (Rehnquist, C.J., joined by White, Scalia, and Thomas, JJ.) (concurring in part, dissenting in part) (agreeing that earlier decisions had gone too far, and urging that Roe be overruled altogether). In judging the constitutionality of abortion laws, the Casey plurality abandoned the use of strict scrutiny, a rigorous test traditionally reserved for the protection of fundamental rights and usually fatal to the challenged law, and substituted for it an undue burden test. The latter test prevents government from imposing a “substantial obstacle” in the path of a woman seeking an abortion before viability. Id. at 878 (emphasis added).
Here in Missouri, some of the laws that would be wiped off the books if FOCA passes include Parental consent for minors prior to an abortion, Partial-Birth Abortion ban (infanticide law), No taxpayer-funded abortions, 24-hour waiting period and informed consent prior to an abortion, Only physicians can perform or induce abortions, Conscience protections for pro-life doctors and hospitals who don’t want to do abortions; No abortions in order to use fetal organs or tissue for transplantation or experimentation, Licensing of most abortion clinics as ambulatory surgical centers to ensure basic health and safety of the patients, Requiring medical malpractice for doctors who perform or induce abortions, alternatives to abortion programs to encourage and support women who choose not to abort their unborn child.
Are you in favor of taking away parental rights? FOCA would do just that by denying parents the right to raise their kids how they see fit. The kids belong to their parents and NOT the government nor organizations like Planned Parenthood, Now, Pro-Choice America, and others. The parents should have the final decision on whether their daughter has an abortion or not and have the right to be told if their child wants an abortion.
Are you in favor of taking away the first amendment right of people of faith? The first amendment says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” FOCA will force Pharmacists, Doctors, and other health professionals to violate their morals and Religious Beliefs and perform Abortion procedures, dispense contraception (a form of abortion and in direct violate of numerous religious teachings, including the Roman Catholic Church). Just ask pharmacists Carol Muzzarelli, of Collinsville, Kelly Hubble, of Belleville, G. Richard Quayle, of Highland and John Menges, formerly of Edwardsville (all Illinois). They were suspended when they refused to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the morning after pill, a form of birth control. The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in December 2008 and the case is Menges, et al. v. Blagojevich (U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois) and go to http://www.aclj.org/Litigation/?state=IL for other cases in this area. This would also apply to people like myself, who would be forced to pay for someone else’s abortion…via the taxes we pay to our respective states and to the Federal Government…forcing us to do something that runs contrary to my values and religious convictions and those of others like me. These tax dollars are the same tax dollars used to pay your salary!
Are you in favor of denying the first amendment rights of Doctors, Nurses and other medical professionals to exercise their religious? FOCA would do this by forcing them to dispense contraception and/or perform abortions in direct violation of their religious beliefs, morals, and consciences.
Are you in favor of violating the part of the first amendment that says,”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” especially the part that says“or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. FOCA would force catholic hospitals and other Catholic Healthcare facilities to provide abortions and contraceptives, along with forcing Catholic organizations like Catholic Charities, St. Vincent DePaul Society, and others to pay for and/or provide abortion and contraceptive services (through programs such as Catholic Charities’ MedAssist Program)…all in direct violation of Code of Cannon Law and official Roman Catholic Church Teaching AND the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
You have stated in the past that you want to “protect a woman’s right to choose”. Okay fine… a woman’s right to choose what… abortion or want? What is the other option besides abortion? I strongly urge you to oppose the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and do everything possible to ensure its defeat once and for all. I would very much appreciate your response, please go to http://big-b.net/feedback.htmlor send them to me at 2192A Keeven Lane in Florissant, MO 63031.
Sincerely Yours,
Bryan V. Hewing
Author and commentator of the Big B Files
2192A Keeven Lane
Florissant, MO 63031
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The Nation’s Transition to Digital TV & not telling the whole story is the subject of this Big B File . . .
On February 17, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. (local time), all television broadcasters in the United States of America will be making the final transition to digital . . . or will they?
According to the public service announcements that have run and are still running by the nation’s full-power broadcasters, cable and broadcast networks, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nonprofit organizations, and other community groups and local governments, among others . . . you and many others in this country would logically say that I’ll all the stations you’re watching right now will shut off their analog transmitters at that time . . . 2/17/09 at 12:01 a.m… and we’ll all be broadcasting in digital only after that time. Just take a look at this notice is given to customers who buy along televisions. Sets in places like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, etc.
CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: www.DTV.gov.
Unfortunately, this announcement similar to what others using is not completely accurate. What these notices and public service announcements don’t tell you is that only the full power stations are mandated by federal law to make the switch to High Definition Television (HDTV) on February 17, 2009. The Low Power (LPTV), Translator, booster, and Class A television stations are not mandated to make the switch on February 17th with no deadline of their own to make the transition to digital television.
The transition to a high definition television began in earnest in 1996 with the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. That act mandated that broadcasters convert their signals to Digital (HDTV) TV within a certain period of time. The original date was December 31, 2006, but was later pushed back several times before finally being set to February 17, 2009. The rest of the time line went like this (according to the website Digital TV Primer):
Time Line (Updated July 2, 2006)
1996 — Congress passed Telecommunications Act of 1996 which established December 31, 2006, as the end of the transition to a new ATSC digital television standard. On that date authority to broadcast via the old NTSC analog standard would end.
1997 — Congress adopted caveats to that hard date to ensure that no more than 15 percent of American TV households would be cut off from TV before analog transmissions ended in any market.
May 1, 1999 — Top four networks in the top ten markets required to have their digital channels up and running (although not at full power and not full time).
November 1, 1999 — Top four networks in markets 11-30 required to have constructed their digital stations.
May 1, 2002 — Remaining commercial broadcast stations required to be transmitting a digital signal.
April 1, 2003 — Broadcast stations required to transmit digitally 50 percent of the time that they broadcast analog programming.
May 1, 2003 — All broadcast stations’ digital channels required to be up and running (these requirements turned out to be a goal, not universally met).
April 1, 2004 — Broadcast stations required to transmit digitally 75 percent of the time that they broadcast analog programming.
Cable operators must supply upon request to their customers, HD STBs with functional Firewire 1394 connectors.▸ July 1, 2004 — 50 percent of models of DTV receivers in sets 36″ and larger that are labeled “Digital Cable Ready” must have DVI or HDMI interfaces using HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection) technology.
50 percent of new televisions 36″ and larger are required to have integrated over-the-air digital tuners
September 7, 2004 — FCC releases Report and Order, Second Periodic Review of Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television (Mostly technical rules, but among other things, it repealed a requirement for simulcasting and rejected proposals for consumer labeling of analog-only sets).
December 31, 2004 — Commercial broadcast stations required to increase signal strength to meet “principle community coverage.”
February 2005 — First round channel elections for broadcast stations with “in-core” channels (i.e. 2-51). Channels 52-69 will be surrendered at the end of the transition and those frequencies (698-806 MHz) will be auctioned off by the government or transferred for use by public safety agencies.
April 1, 2005 — Broadcast stations required to transmit digitally 100 percent of the time that they broadcast analog programming.
June 2005 — FCC Media Bureau issues DTV channel election conflict letters.
July 1, 2005 — all HD STBs must also have DVI (digital visual interface) or HDMI (high definition multimedia interface).
100 percent of models of DTV receivers in sets 36″ and larger and 50 percent in sets 25″ to 35″ that are labeled “Digital Cable Ready” must have DVI or HDMI interfaces using HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection) technology; any set labeled “Digital Cable Ready” must also include an integrated over-the-air digital tuner.
100 percent of new televisions 36″ and larger are required to have integrated digital tuners; 50 percent of new televisions 25″ to 35″ are required to have integrated over-the-air digital tuners.
Use-it-or-lose-it deadline for the top four networks’ stations in the 100 largest TV markets to go to full digital signal coverage (a replication and maximization protection deadline).
August 2005 — Broadcast stations file with FCC first round channel election interference conflict forms.
September 2005 — Second round of channel elections for broadcast stations.
October 2005 — FCC completes second round channel election interference conflict analysis; Media Bureau issues conflict letters.
November 1, 2005 — The Senate and the House of Representatives each pass their own version of a new digital TV transition bill. The House version would end the transition on December 31, 2008, and the Senate version would set that date as April 7, 2009. Each would have a subsidy for digital-to-analog set-top-boxes.
December 2005 — Broadcast stations submit second round conflict decision forms to FCC.
December 31, 2005 — Non-commercial broadcast stations required to increase signal strength to meet “principle community coverage.”
February 8, 2006 — Digital TV Transition Act of 2005 signed into law, establishing February 17, 2009 as the last day for NTSC/analog TV broadcasts.
February 2006 — Third round channel elections for stations without confirmed channels.
March 1, 2006 — All new televisions 25″ to 35″ are required to have integrated over-the-air digital tuners.
March 2006 — FCC to resolve third round DTV channel election interference conflicts.
July 1, 2006 — 100 percent of models of DTV receivers in sets 25″ to 35″ that are labeled “Digital Cable Ready” must have DVI or HDMI interfaces using HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection) technology.
Use-it-or-lose-it deadline for all smaller commercial stations plus non-commercial stations to go to full digital signal coverage (a replication and maximization protection deadline, with caveats depending on channel assignment).
August 2006 — FCC completes channel elections, issues new DTV Table of Allotments. That is, all TV broadcast stations have their final digital channel numbers.
March 1, 2007 — Deadline for all television sets (13″ and larger) to include integrated ATSC (digital) tuners.
January 1, 2008 — First day that consumers may request $40 government subsidy coupons for a digital-to-analog converter box.
February 17, 2009 — Hard cutoff date for analog TV broadcasts set by the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005.
March 31, 2009 — Last day for consumers to request $40 government subsidy coupons for a digital-to-analog converter box.
Here are some serious issues in relation to the Digital transition when it comes to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations. As I said earlier, Low Power (LPTV), Translator, booster, and Class A television stations are not mandated to make the switch to HDTV on February 17, 2009 and have no set date for these stations to make the switch themselves. Unlike Full Power stations, Low Power (LPTV), Translator, booster, and Class A television stations were not automatically assigned a second digital channel by the FCC like the Full Power stations were in the late 1990s.
Up until the past few years, Low Power (LPTV), Translator, booster, and Class A television stations were virtually ignored by the FCC and organizations like the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and were left on their own to find a second digital channel. Not only that, but if a Low Power station was on a channel that has been assigned to a full-power station as their digital channel, they have no choice other than find a new channel, file a displacement relief application (without FCC help and using their own funds), or cease operations altogether a.k.a. shut down permanently (go dark /silent) . . . just ask Bob Suffel, Former owner & General Manager of KBTV-LP in Sacramento, California, which had to shut down his station in February 2000 after being bumped by KOVR-DT (then owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, now by CBS).
Currently, there is no set deadline for all the Low Power (LPTV), Translator, booster, and Class A television stations to switch to Digital TV . . . even though FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin has suggested in a letter to National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and others a goal of having 2012 as the date of the switch to digital for low power stations.
When the $40 government subsidy coupon program began one year ago, it was only for Converter Boxes that did not have the analog pass-through capability . . . meaning that LPTVs cannot be viewed before and after the transition, whether the converter box is on or off. As a result of this, the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA) filed a lawsuit on March 26, 2008, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. In the lawsuit, the Community Broadcasters Association said that all but six of the converter boxes that were lacking the Analog Pass-Through capability violate the All-Channel Receiver Act (ACRA), 47 U.S.C. §303(s), and Sections stations 15.115(c) and 15.117(b) of the FCC’s Rules. The Big B Files believes that the CBA was correct in this regard and that a recall should be issued in this regard for the Noncompliant converter boxes to be exchanged for ACRA compliant boxes as well. The Lawsuit was dismissed in Early May and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled against the CBA in Early May and CBA had said they have no plans to appeal the case. The good news is that the vast majority of the converter boxes out now do have this capability.
As of Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 7:51 pm CST, only the following stations have a digital channel in the St. Louis, Mo Metro area:
KUMO-LD
K23IR-D
KPTN-LD
K49FC
The Big B Files says that the FCC must assign a digital channel to the Low Power (LPTV), Translator, booster, and Class A television stations in the country, set a hard date for the switchover to digital and provide funds to those who need funds to make the transition to HDTV and allow some of those stations to upgrade to Full Power status.
That is the Big B Files. Click on the comments link below and let me know what you think… I’m Bryan Hewing.
Please mark on your calendar the day to start this Novena, Jan 11th. Our prayers are desperately needed. If you are opposed to abortion then there is bad news on the horizon. I know that most of you are aware. For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is set to be signed if congress passes iton January 21-22 of2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law then all limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in the following:
All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals, more then 30% of all hospitals in the United States. (We can only imagine what kind of repercussions this will have on our Church.)
Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no limitations.
All U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.
Parental notification will no longer be required.
The number of abortions will increase by a minimum of 100,000 annually.
Perhaps most importantly, the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, Down Syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have
Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.
The Plan: To say a novena (9 days of prayer) along with fasting starting on January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the Rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA. For non-Catholics I encourage you to ptay your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days. The hope is that this will branch and blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very little time so we all must act fast. Just do three things:
Pass this letter to 5 or more people.
Do it in three days or less.
Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.
Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children then the time is now to do something about it! Please also fast for at least two days during the novena.
May God bless you all !!
“If you pray well, you will live well, if you live well, you will die well; and if you die well, all will be well.”
- St. Augustine
“We cannot fight credibly against other social and moral evils, including poverty and violence, while we tolerate mass killings by abortion.”
bigbfiles