Changing Channels
By Bob McDonnellYour television might become obsolete next year, on Feb. 17, 2009.
Back in 1996, Congress ordered all over-the-air TV stations to stop broadcasting on analog frequencies and start broadcasting digitally. The federal government intends to make some of these public lines available for different uses, such as public safety communications. Others will be sold to private companies for services like wireless signals.
This means that on Feb. 18, 2009, if you have an older analog television and don’t take necessary steps, your TV won’t get any over-the-air programming. (Over-the-air programming is basically the four major networks, plus PBS, as opposed to cable channels like CNN, ESPN or Lifetime, which aren’t controlled by public over-the-air regulations.)
This does not mean you have to run out and buy an expensive high-definition (HDTV) set. Your television simply needs a digital tuner, also known as a decoder or receiver. All new TVs sold in the U.S. since March 1, 2007 have such digital tuners.
What precautions can you take if you have an older analog TV? If you have an analog TV and rely upon roof-top or “rabbit ear” antennas to get a signal, you simply can buy a digital-to-analog converter. Converter boxes cost between $50 and $70, and are for sale at stores including Wal-mart, Best Buy and K-mart.
Starting Jan. 1, 2008 all households can request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of up to two converter boxes. The federal government has allocated up to $1.5 billion for these coupons, according to the Department of Commerce. Coupon supplies are limited, and they expire 90 days after they are mailed. You can request a coupon over the phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 or online at www.dtv2009.gov.
If you have a subscription to cable or satellite, your TV set should continue functioning fine after Feb. 17, 2009, according to the Federal Communications Commission, as should gaming consoles, VCRs and DVD players. You may, however, need to obtain a set-top box from your cable or satellite company to receive DTV signals and convert them into the format of your current analog TV. Check with your cable or satellite company to find out if you need a set-top box, and, if so, what fee (typically monthly) is charged for the box.
For more information about the analog-to-digital conversion, you can visit www.dtv.gov. Consumers may also e-mail questions to: DTVinfo@fcc.gov.
Consumer protection is an important statutory duty of the Office of the Attorney General, and our staff can help. In an age of increased consumer scams, we all must continue to be educated and vigilant.
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