The following editorial appeared Monday in the Chicago Tribune.

On the morning of Feb. 18, 2009, some Americans will awake, flip on the television, and find … nothing. Not a single channel in the vast sumptuous television banquet. Just snow.

They will wonder what happened. We will tell you what happened.

On that day – more than a year from now – TV stations will stop broadcasting an analog signal. In English, that means the old way of beaming television to the set, the way that millions of televisions still depend on, will cease. Only digital signals will be beamed. People will be slapping the box and adjusting the ears and scratching their heads and blaming their teenagers. But it won’t help.

If the deadline holds, about 20 million homes that rely strictly on antennas to receive free over-the-air broadcasting will suddenly go dark, the National Association of Broadcasters estimates. An additional 14.6 million households have cable in one room but also at least one antenna-powered television. In all, 69 million televisions will be affected, the association says.

So why are we telling you now, more than a year in advance? Well, for one thing, this is good to keep in mind for the Christmas/Hanukkah buying season, particularly if you’re in one of the households that rely on free analog television signals. For another, it’s important that those who are shopping for a new TV make sure they know what they’re buying. Some stores won’t sell the analog sets anymore. But some will. Buying a new digital set is not the only way to stay connected after the transition. You could also subscribe to a cable or satellite or telephone-company TV service provider and let it handle the details with your old set. Or you could buy a set-top converter box for $50 to $70 that allows you to watch digital programming on an analog TV.

The feds will even help pay for the converter box because they’re commandeering the analog spectrum for advanced wireless services and public safety needs. Come Jan. 1, Americans can apply for as many as two $40 coupons toward the purchase of converter boxes. (Call 1-888-DTV-2009 or visit dtvanswers.com for more information.)

Many Americans haven’t heard of this coming change. Our guess: You’ll be hearing about this a lot more. As U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said at a hearing earlier this year, the lack of public awareness “scares me politically. There is no anger that comes close to the anger of an American that cannot get television.”

She’s right about that. You don’t want to get between a television addict and his or her “24” or “30 Rock” or “Friday Night Lights” or “The Office,” “Reaper” or “CSI: Miami” or “Desperate Housewives” … well, you make your own list.

For people who disdain television, who brag about not having one or about still owning a black-and-white set circa 1979, this is another reason to feel superior to the proles who sit slack-jawed in front of the set every night. … Millions, though, will have to get ready for the great conversion.