On Feb. 17, 2009, major U.S. television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and send only digital transmissions. Some questions and answers about the transition:
- Why is this happening?
Stopping the analog broadcasts will free up a huge amount of airwaves. The government has auctioned off some of them for use by wireless broadband and cell-phone TV. There's also a drive to use some of the spectrum for a network that can be used in emergency situations by public safety officials.
- Do I need a digital converter box?
You do if you use a "rabbit-ear" or similar antenna on an older TV. More than 19 million U.S. households have at least one set that receives over-the-air signals, according a survey by Nielsen Co. Sets hooked up to cable or satellite service are not affected. Most new TVs sold today, including flat-panel sets, won't need a converter box because they have a built-in digital tuner, also known as an "ATSC" tuner.
"NTSC" is the old, analog tuner standard. Retailers can still sell older TVs if they are labeled as being analog-only.
- How much do the converters cost?
Go to www.dtv2009.gov or call (888) DTV-2009 " (888) 388-2009 to get up to two $40 coupons per household. The converter boxes generally cost $50-$60, so the final cost is between $10 and $20 per box.