The U.S. Department of Commerce issued the following notice on Tuesday
TWO MONTHS UNTIL DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION
U.S. Department of Commerce Offering Coupons for TV Converters
NTIA Urges Consumers to Prepare for Transition Now
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, will mark two months until all full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital. Digital broadcast television offers consumers a clearer picture, more programming choices and will free up the airwaves for better communications among emergency first responders and new telecommunications services.
Consumers receiving their TV programming with an antenna, also known as over-the-air, with an analog set will need to make one of three timely choices about how to watch TV after that date or risk losing their service: 1.) Buy a converter box that will plug into the analog TV; 2.) Buy a TV with a digital tuner; and 3.) Connect the analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service. For consumers choosing the TV converter box option, the TV Converter Box Coupon Program permits all households to request up to two $40 coupons toward the purchase of certified converter boxes. U.S. households can apply on a first-come-first-serve basis online at www.DTV2009.gov or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
Consumers who rely on over-the-air analog TV and who choose the converter box option are encouraged to act now and “Apply, Buy and Try” through the TV Converter Box Coupon Program:
• Apply — for a $40 coupon through the Coupon Program
• Buy — the TV converter box
• Try — the TV converter box with your analog television
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