Broadcasters to switch from analog to digital
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Analog televisions that operated on old-fashioned antennas will be a thing of the past in about a year. On Feb. 19, 2009, full-powered television stations across the nation will switch from analog to digital programming.

"This transition will be a historic moment in broadcast television," said Tom Bienemann, a Federal Communications Commission spokesperson.

Digital television will offer improved pictures and sound as well as more programming options for viewers. The move should also free up lines of communication for police officers, firefighters and emergency rescue officials.

The extra space, called the "spectrum," will be auctioned to companies to provide consumers with advanced wireless services, including wireless broadband.

For consumers who already have cable television services or a satellite dish on their roof, the move to digital will not have much of an impact. But holdouts of analog television sets that receive signals over the air through rooftop antennas or "rabbit ears" will risk losing television access. Two options are available to them. One, of course, is to purchase a new television.

But for those who love their old television there's another option. The FCC says a converter box will be available to install with older model television sets, which will enable owners to view additional multicast broadcasts.

There's even a coupon program for the converter. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the Department of Commerce, will administer the Analog Converter Box Coupon Program.

Every U.S. household is eligible to receive two coupons worth $40 each to be used toward the purchase of digitaltoanalog converter boxes. The coupons became available on Jan. 1.

The cost of the digitaltoanalog converter boxes ranges from $40 to $70, Bienemann said.

Many consumers are just now hearing about the governmentordered digital transition and are going to retail stores to ask questions about what is necessary to maintain their TV reception.

CALPRIG, a statewide, citizenbased publicinterest advocacy group, conducted "secret shopper" surveys at 132 electronics stores in 10 states, including California, to determine if America's big electronics retailers are properly preparing their customers for the digital transition.

In reporting the results of the survey, the group said that accurate information about the transition is hard to come by in most retail stores. Some sales clerks tried to persuade the secret shoppers to buy new, expensive digital televisions or premium converters, which will not be covered in the government's coupon program.

"To protect customers against misinformation or fraud," said CALPRIG advocate Emily Rusch, "retailers must provide proper information about the converter boxes they sell and about the governmentsponsored coupon program that is designed to offset the cost of the converter boxes.

"They must also properly label analog TV sets that are still on the shelves with warnings informing buyers about the need for a converter box after next February."

The transition from analog broadcasting to digital TV will allow for highdefinition broadcasts, but a high-definition TV is not required, according to the FCC website, www.fcc.com. A standarddefinition digital television or a television fitted with a converter box is all that is needed to watch favorite shows.

Visit the NTIA's website at www.dtv2009.gov or call (888) 388-2009 or (877) 530-2634 for further information.