The government reports at midnight on Feb. 17, all full-power U.S. TV stations will stop analog broadcasts and switch to 100 percent digital because of a Congressional mandate. The switch is expected to provide clearer images and free airwaves for use by emergency responders. Viewers who have cable, satellite or a pay TV service or a television with a digital tuner will continue to receive a television signal. Those using rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna connected to an analog TV will no longer receive a broadcast television signal after Feb. 17 without a converter box.
To help reduce the expense of acquiring the converter boxes, which may range from $40 to $70, up to two government rebate vouchers worth $40 a box are available per U.S. household.
Televisions connected to cable, satellite or pay services or TVs with built-in digital tuners do not need converter boxes. TVs purchased before 1998 probably don't have digital tuners, while TVs purchased since 2004 may have them.
Digital TV deadline
For more information about the digital TV conversion, go online to www.dtv2009.gov or call (888) 388-2009.
Another Web site on the digital transition from the private sector is www.dtvtransition.org or try www.dtv.gov for information from the Federal Communications Commission.
The government reports handheld or battery-operated televisions are not likely to work after Feb. 17. Additional analog equipment, such as VCRs and DVD players, are expected to continue to work as before, but the government reports that analog equipment won't receive over-the-air programming anymore without a TV converter box. The converter box needs to be attached to the VCR, TiVo, DVD or DVR instead of being attached directly to the TV set.
As for closed captioning for the hearing impaired, the government reports manufacturers of converter boxes are required to provide that service.
Go online to www.dtv2009.gov for more details and a list of answers to frequently asked questions. The Web site also provides information on how to get a government coupon to defray the cost of a converter box.
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