What happens
on Feb. 18, 2009?
That's the date that television broadcasters are legally required
to stop transmitting their channels over the air as an analog
signal and must switch to a digital signal.
What does
that mean if I own an analog television?
If you get your TV service from a cable or satellite provider,
or if you have a digital TV and use an antenna or rabbit ears,
the switch won't affect you. However, if you have an analog TV
and use an antenna or rabbit ears to get your picture, you will
need to either buy a digital-to-analog converter box, sign up
for cable or satellite service or buy a digital television.
How do I know if I have an analog or digital television?
If you have a high-definition television, then by definition it's
a digital set. If you have a non-HD television, there are several
ways to tell if you have a digital or analog unit. According to
the Federal Communications Commission's Web site on digital television
(www.dtv.gov), digital televisions often have labels on the set
or in the manual using phrases such as "Integrated Digital
Tuner," "Digital Tuner Built-In," "Digital
Receiver" or "Digital Tuner," "DTV,"
"ATSC" or "HDTV."
What should I do if I have an analog television and I get my
broadcasts over the air?
The easiest option will be to buy a digital-to-analog converter
box, so that your antenna will capture the digital over-the-air
broadcast, and then the box will convert it to an analog signal
that your television can accept. The boxes are expected to cost
as little as $60 when they go on sale starting in January 2008,
and each household will be eligible for two $40 coupons from the
federal government. So, essentially, you should be able to get
at least one converter for free. However, there's some concern
that the converters won't be on store shelves early next year
as planned.
How do I get my coupons?
Coupons will not be sent out until the converter boxes are in
stores. When the coupons do become available or for more information
now, go to the Web site of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration at www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/ or call
1-888-388-2009.
Why is the government forcing broadcasters to switch to digital?
The government wants to free up the analog signals to auction
some of the spectrum to wireless companies, while other parts
of the analog spectrum will be used for communication by fire
and police departments and other public safety groups. Also, consumers
should get better picture and sound quality from the digital broadcasts.
