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Digital Conversion
On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.
TV viewers who get their programming over an antenna and are not connected to cable or satellite will need a converter box when full power broadcast stations begin transmitting digital only signals in February 2009. An estimated 13 to 21 million U.S. households use rabbit ears to pull programs off air to view.
The federal government will begin mailing out $40 coupons to subsidize needed converter box sets for those who do not subscribe to cable or satellite. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) oversees the coupon program.
Stores that will sell the needed converter boxes included Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City and Radio Shack. Each household is eligible to receive two $40 coupons to help off set the government mandated transition to digital.
The conversion to digital only allowed the federal government to auction off the analog spectrum to industry for widened use of wireless services and greater broadband capacity for advanced telecommunication services. It also opens up a wider use of telecommunication applications for public safety.
The coupon program is set to expire March 31, 2009, although several legislators would like to see that date extended.
For more information on the how’s and whys to the digital conversion go to http://www.dtv.gov/
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