musikman1
Erlanger, KY
age: 50
| The Federal government has made coupons worth $40 toward the cost of buying a converter box that will allow existing televisions work with the new HDTV system available starting today. The current broadcasts will cease on Feb. 18, 2009. If you do not own an HDTV or have a converter by that date, you will have no television - unless you get cable or satellite television.
Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture.
That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.
The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the boxes.
Viewers who have satellite or cable service will not need a box.
To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ starting Tuesday. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
There are only 33.5 million coupons available. The coupons will expire 90 days after they are issued - and converter boxes are not expected to be available until sometime in February of this year.
Go to the website early and get your coupons while they're available!
Rick
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newlife4me2
Sioux Falls, SD
age: 43
| Rick
Very cool post. A friend and I were just talking about this over the past weekend. I know that this switch was big news when it first came out but honestly I had completely forgotten about it until the subject came up as we were looking at big screen prices.
I'll be forwarded this info to every one I know.
Thanks!!
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newlife4me2
Sioux Falls, SD
age: 43
| Because most people will wait to the last minute and demand will overwhelm and bury supply.
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sea_dragon
Crystal River, FL
age: 31
| This has been coming since 2005. The FCC has been continually pushing the date due to wanting about half of the households to have the newer digital TVs. It is paving the way for much better picture quality.
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eddiethewhite
Denver, CO
age: 45
| First of all Qazy, a large number of Americans still receive TV off the air. It's not just the "poor and lower class". So get your head out of your ass.
Next, most TV stations already broadcast in both HD and analog. In fact, here in the Denver area a number of stations broadcast multiple HD channels. One of the local PBS stations has three different channels available - all over the air with no subscription fees needed.
HDTV has been available for quite some time - 1998 in fact. That was when HDTV first came into being.
So, you see we've had 10 years to actually educate ourselves. Too bad that some people are still in the stone age.
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