Bush Administration Budget Includes $20M to FCC for DTV Education

Digital TV is coming, even the Federal Government feels the need to spend your tax dollars and get in the act.

The Federal Communications Commission will get another $20 million in 2008 for DTV education if the Bush administration has its way. That would be a big increase from its current DTV-education appropriation, which is $2.5 million for FY 2008, according to the an FCC source.

In submitting its budget, the administration included the FCC's request for that money to help it get viewers ready for full-power TV stations' Feb. 17, 2009, switch to digital broadcasting. The FCC asked for a total of $338.9 million for fiscal-year 2009, which begins in September 2008.

The commission said it will use the money for "producing and distributing consumer-oriented educational materials; using news media to spread information through media tours and public-service announcements; attending and presenting at events and conferences representing a wide array of consumers; leveraging the Internet to disseminate information; coordinating with state, local, and tribal entities; and distribution of direct mailings to targeted groups."

Most people, who can read English, will likely find out all they need to know from stores and the media, but spending more tax dollars seems like such a good thing to do for government. And of course, the Democrats say $20 million isn't enough and we should spend $20 gazillion, because well, you know, education is a good thing.

The old days of get an antenna, get some wire, get a free tuner, connect wires to tuner and TV is just too tough for our modern grade school literate society -- I would guess. Good thing having babies doesn't require education ... Just free medical care.