Are you ready for the
digital T.V. changeover?

BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR Relax - the date has been extended We’ve been hearing about the digital television transition for over a year now, but with millions of Americans, many of them either elderly or low-income families, not prepared for the changeover the United States Congress and the Senate voted to extend the deadline to June 12, 2009. President Obama has said that he will sign the bill soon.

Included in the stimulus package is $650 million to help support the coupon program which offers a $40 coupon towards converter boxes for those who may not be able to afford them.

Here’s what you need to know to be ready for the up and coming transition to all digital TV.

At midnight on Friday, June 12, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting. It is said that digital broadcasting will provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.

For those of us who don’t currently subscribe to cable or satellite, we will need to make sure we have a TV Converter Box if we want to be able to watch TV beyond the June 12 date.

There are a couple of options when it comes to the TV converter boxes.
You can purchase the converter box, which costs between $40 and $70 at local retailers, or you can apply for the government coupon worth $40 towards your converter box.

Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after the deadline. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

To apply for the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, please visit www.dTV2009.gov.

CONSUMER OPTIONS TO
KEEP TV’S WORKING

1. Keep your existing ana-log TV and purchase a TV converter box.
A con- verter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working
after June 12, 2009.
2. Connect to cable, satel- lite or other pay service, or
3. Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

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