TV

Okay another rant. As most of America knows, on February 17th, people can no longer use analog TVs. This is a stupid date and I can imagine how the committee came up with the date. Having served on plenty of committees, I know how it works. Half of the committee wanted 2/1 and the other half wanted 3/1. They compromised on the date of the 17th, which is a hard date to remember.
I do understand that there are probably a lot of people who use rabbit ears or whatever. I would imagine that people with lower incomes, the elderly and the like don't have cable.
What I don't understand is why the government thinks it's SO important that every American has access to TV. What do they need to watch? Their Soap Operas, Jerry Springer or Judge Judy? Yeah, I admit I was glued to the tube for the inaguration, but that's the exception of what people normally watch.
I do like watching TV - I am watching the news right now. But, I would not die if I didn't have TV. We lived without TV for years in Gilroy. If I wanted to stay in touch, I listened to the radio. That's still free.
So why all the hullabaloo to make sure everyone can watch their precious TV?