TITUSVILLE – On Tuesday Rep. John Peterson (R-Pleasantville), reminded residents of the 5th congressional district that one year from now, February 2009, the nation will undergo a change in the way television is broadcast over-the-air, which may affect the way you watch TV.
“A year from now, every television station in the country will be required to broadcast digitally, giving viewers crystal clear images and additional program choices while at the same time freeing up airwaves for public safety communications such as police, fire and rescue. With this change however, some households, particularly those who use rabbit ear antennas, will have to take additional steps to ensure their TV service is not interrupted. While February 2009 is still some time away, I want to make sure folks are well prepared and take the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition” said Peterson.
If you have a television set which is connected to cable or satellite, those service providers will make sure that your television set receives a viewable image after the transition.
For those with rabbit ears or an over-the-air antenna and do not want to purchase a new, digital TV or subscribe to a cable or satellite provider, you will need to attach a small digital-to-analog converter box to your television in order to continue receiving over-the-air television broadcasts. These converter boxes will be sold nationwide at retail stores and online. To help consumers with the DTV transition, Congress established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. Manufacturers estimate that digital-to-analog converter boxes will sell from $40 to $70 each. Coupons have been available since January of this year.
For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit the Web site or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
For additional information about the DTV Transition and what you may need to do to prepare for it, visit the Federal Communications Commission’s website http://www.dtv.gov/ or call 1-888-225-5322.