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