FLASHREPORT

For those who feel the world is in crisis, let's put it in perspective: there's more important things to worry about beyond the economy.  Things like getting a slow food and organically-inclined chef in the Obama White House kitchen and ensuring that television remains a "right" to be guaranteed by the government.

The New York Times blogged yesterday and reported in print today on a letter to the President-elect from noted California chef, restaurateur and "slow food" activist Alice Waters (along with others) calling for a new White House chef focused on serving local and organic meals during the Obama Administration.  That might be easier in Waters' native California with a nearly year-round growing season and massive agricultural resources (compared to say, Virginia and Maryland).  But more importantly, it's proof that no PR opportunity is too small!  Just wait till Obama has to pardon his first Tofurkey.

Over in the Times' Op-Ed section, two former FCC commissioners opine on the need to delay the statutorialy mandated analog-to-digital television signal transition date in order to help  a population "disproportionately made up of poorer households, the elderly and members of  minority groups."

Television has now become a guaranteed "right" in the same fashion as other government benefits.  But here's the good part, and in some ways it's surprising it got through the Times editorial staff prior to publication. 

The column reports "as many as 19 million American households still rely solely on over-the-air analog television" and "perhaps another 19 million use over-the-air in combination with cable or satellite."  The first category is clear; the second however is a red herring because by having cable or satellite they defacto are capable of receiving the new "digital" signal albeit for some if not all of their broadcast services.  Local broadcast stations are not always carried by cable / satellite providers.

The two former FCC commissioners report "congress appropriated $1.34 billion for 33.5 million $40 coupons that can be redeemed at stores where the [analog-to-digital] boxes are sold.  They bemoan that the coupons expire after 90 days, and are limited to one-per applicant (e-gads, one per house-the humanity!).  Their argument culminates in noting that "more than 46 million" requests have come in with only "18 million boxes purchased, and 11 million in inventory."  No surprise there, if you give people something for nothing, you create an artificial demand.  That number already exceeds the combined maximum audience they cite above (and includes the 19 million who already have some level cable or satellite service). 

They go on to say total demand is expected to be 33-60 million units (a number more than 50% bigger than the total audience noted above) but not net of the 18 million who already purchased boxes or of the 11 million customers served by the current inventory.  Some quick math (18 million plus 11 million) equals roughly the low side of the total "demand."

What's it mean?  A tempest in a teapot amidst far more daunting challenges.

But it also means that the New York Times, two of the most prominent and capable former public servants, and perhaps even now Congress, are considering delaying a long-anticipated technological transition (which by the way frees up massive blocks of valuable and needed frequency spectrum space) all to ensure America get's its steady diet of "Must See TV" rubbish.

For what it's worth, we recently ended an (economically, as opposed to politically motivated) two year television fast.  While we didn't have the talking heads blaring at us over dinner, we did still have to occasionally digest New York Times op eds claiming "rights" where most logical people would agree none should exist.

Here's the best part, according to the authors concluding line: "if the transition to divital TV goes badly, it will inconvenience millions." 

Inconvenience is the new threshold for government benefits.