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DTV Transition: Are You Ready?
What you need to know about the
Feb. 17, 2009 transition to digital television.
Visit
dtvanswers.com
By law, all American
television stations must switch their broadcasting from analog
to digital by February 17, 2009. Television sets connected
to cable or satellite will not be affected, and will continue to
receive programming after that date. But those analog
television sets not connected to cable or satellite, or without
a DTV converter box, will not receive any television signal
after the date of the switch.
Why the switch? Under legislation passed
by Congress - the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 - free local
broadcast television stations are required to turn off their
analog channels on February 17, 2009, and continue broadcasting
exclusively in the digital format.
What are the benefits of DTV? Digital
television allows stations to offer a number of new and better
services. In addition to providing dramatically better
pictures, sound quality and high definition television (HDTV),
DTV also enables TV stations to provide several channels of
programming at once. This is known as "multicasting."
DTV can also be used to provide data services that are not
possible with analog technology.
IF
YOU ARE RECEIVING FREE TELEVISION SIGNALS THROUGH ANTENNAS ON TV
SETS THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH ANALOG TUNERS AND DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO
CABLE OR SATELLITE OR TELEPHONE COMPANY TELEVISION SERVICE
PROVIDERS - YOU WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE TRANSITION!
How Can I Switch to DTV?
- Purchase a DTV converter box that plugs
into your existing analog set. (Will be available for
purchase in early 2008). The federal government will
provide $40 coupons that you may use toward the purchase of
these boxes.
- Purchase a NEW TELEVISION SET - make sure
it has a built in digital tuner.
- You may also choose to subscribe to cable
or satellite service to continue to use your analog set, if
all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that
service.
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