Who will be affected by the switch?
You will need to take action before June 12, 2009 if you currently watch TV on an analog TV set that is not connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service or if you do not have a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. Second or third television sets in a household that are not connected to cable or satellite or do not have built-in digital tuners will be affected. Nationally, some 19 million households with 70 million television sets receive only over-the-air television signals through antennas and rabbit ears and will be at risk of losing their signals unless they make the easy transition to DTV.
If your TV relies on an analog (‘rabbit ears’) signal, you can make the switch to DTV by following ONE of these options: • You can keep your existing television if you purchase a digital converter box. The federal government is currently offering $40 coupons that you may use toward the purchase of these converter boxes. Each household can request up to two coupons, which must be redeemed within three months after you receive them. Typically, converter boxes cost between $50 and $70, so you will not have to shoulder the majority of the cost of the transition. You can apply for these coupons by calling 1-800-388-2009. More information on the federal coupon program can be found here; or • You can purchase a new television set with a digital tuner; or • If you subscribe to cable, satellite or another paid TV service, you can check with your television service provider for what you will need and when you will need it.
