Television Changes Coming in 2009

On February 17, 2009, standard broadcast television signals in the United States will end, and TV sets that rely on an antenna will no longer receive signals. How can you be sure you’re not left without television? The answer to this question depends on a few things. Some people need to purchase a DTV converter box in order to continue watching broadcast television, many people don’t need to do anything at all. You probably need a DTV converter box if :

• You use “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna for TV reception.

You don’t need to do anything if:

• You currently subscribe to a cable or satellite service OR you do not subscribe to a service but your television is “DTV ready,” which you can find out from the manufacturer.

Where do I get a DTV converter box? The boxes will be available on January 1, 2008, from major retailers. They are expected to cost between $50 – $70. The federal government is ordering coupons that will knock $40 off the price of each converter box, and U.S. households can request up to two coupons. Coupons will be available from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) via their website or a toll-free number. Is DTV the same thing as HDTV? No. HDTV stands for High Definition Television, which is difierent than Digital Television. Some retailers may try to sell you HDTVs, claiming that they are necessary for the DTV Transition, but this is not true! Will I hear more about this in the coming months? Definitely. The FCC has been working on a plan for a public education program and those efforts will soon come to light, as will the efforts of the DTV Transition Coalition and its members. For more information, please call the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC or visit http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/