| Changes are coming in the world of
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| | available.
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| television. Traditional over-the-air
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| | • Purchase a digital ready television
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| television broadcasts will cease on
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| | • Subscribe to a cable or satellite TV
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| February 18, 2009 and all stations will
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| | service
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| broadcast digitally. Although the
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| | • Obtain a set top box to allow an
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| majority of consumers already have the
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| | existing television to receive digital
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| equipment and services necessary to
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| | television signals
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| continue to receive their television
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| | Purchasing a new television of course
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| programming, there will still be an
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| | carries a price tag. Depending upon the
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| estimated 20 million who will need to
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| | size and display type, a new television
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| take action if they want to continue
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| | could run from a couple of hundred to a
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| viewing programming.
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| | few thousand dollars. Subscribing to a
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| The digital switch over will occur in
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| | cable or satellite TV service would
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| order to free up those portions of the
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| | provide additional programming options
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| broadcast spectrum, which traditional
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| | and would eliminate the need to purchase
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| analog broadcasts currently occupy, for
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| | additional equipment but would involve
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| use by wireless and broadband services.
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| | adding another monthly bill onto the
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| Improved communications for public and
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| | household budget for homes that don't
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| safety services and more affordable high
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| | currently subscribe to such services. The
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| speed internet are just two of the
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| | final option, which is probably the least
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| potential benefits of the switch.
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| | expensive, is to purchase a set-top
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| For most consumers who utilize cable or
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| | converter box; the cost of which is
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| satellite TV services no action prior to
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| | anticipated to be around $50 by the 2009
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| the change over should be necessary as
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| | change over.
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| the set-top boxes or receivers they use
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| | To assist consumers who receive
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| will allow them to receive the digital
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| | over-the-air television programming
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| signals. However, for those households
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| | without cable or satellite TV services,
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| who receive their television programming
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| | the US Department of Commerce will be
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| exclusively through over-the-air analog
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| | providing a coupon program beginning in
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| broadcasts, additional equipment will be
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| | 2008. The program will reportedly
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| needed in most instances.
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| | provide up to two $40 vouchers per
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| Consumers who have purchased a television
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| | household to help offset the cost of this
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| set in the past year or two may already
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| | change for such households.
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| have a set with a digital tuner which
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| | Certainly the change over to digital
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| will allow them to pick up the new
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| | television should provide a needed boost
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| signals. However, because not every
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| | for emergency services communications and
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| television manufactured prior to March 1,
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| | wireless capabilities while improving
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| 2007 was required to have a digital tuner
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| | television signal efficiency and quality
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| having a newer television may not exempt
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| | for home viewers. Like most change
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| consumers from needing to seek out
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| | however, it will not be completely
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| additional equipment.
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| | without pain, as millions of home viewers
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| For those households with a television
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| | on a budget may find they need to take
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| that does not currently have a digital
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| | action if they wish to keep their current
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| tuner and which receive programming
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| | television service.
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| over-the-air, one of three options are
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