Are You Ready for Digital Television?
by: Iowa Legal Aid
Television will switch from analog to digital on February 17, 2009. Many readers of the Equal Justice Journal may not know they are at risk of losing their TV signal after the switch takes place. People who use antennas to get over-the-air signals on tvs with analog tuners - and who do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider - will be affected by the change. Across the country, at least 19.6 million households only get over-the-air signals.
TV converter boxes that change digital television signals to analog will be sold at electronics stores in early 2008. They are expected to cost between $50 and $70. These converter boxes will let you keep free, over-the-air television service even on older analog TVs.
A government program will give coupons to help people buy converters to let analog TVs get the new digital signals. The program will help cover the cost of the converter box. Households will be able to get up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 starting in early 2008. Each coupon may be used to help buy a single DTV converter box. The U.S. Department of Commerce will administer the coupon program. For details, go to http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html.
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