ARE YOU READY FOR THE DIGITAL SWITCH?

// January 11th, 2009 // Hott2Def!

will it be worth the wait?

“The list already contains 103,000 names, and more coupons will only be mailed when the ones issued previously to other consumers expire.”

By John Charles Reedburg

Ready and looking forward to it.

The digital deadline is barely one month away.

In 1996, the federal government passed a law requiring all analog television transmission to switch over to digital on February 17, 2009.

While the majority of consumers utilize cable or satellite services, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued this consumer alert as a reminder to double check your TV’s setup before the digital switch.

Digital television or “DTV” is an umbrella term that encompasses advanced broadcasting technology.

Consumers that do not currently use satellite or cable but use rooftop antennas or “rabbit ears” instead, will need to consider one of the following options:

1) Buy a new, digital television;

2) Subscribe to cable or satellite; or

3) Purchase an analog-to-digital converter box.

Between now and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households are eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes.

However, it is important to note that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is doling out the vouchers, recently created a wait list after hitting its spending limit set by Congress.

The list already contains 103,000 names, and more coupons will only be mailed when the ones issued previously to other consumers expire.

Additionally, those wishing to purchase converter boxes should be wary of advertisements offering assistance in obtaining the boxes, as those offers may be scams that cost the consumer more money than necessary.

For more information on obtaining converter boxes and coupons, consumers should click here.

Consumers who currently receive over-the-air digital programming through cable or satellite do not need to do anything in advance of the February 2009 deadline.