Coming soon: Blank screens for analog tv sets

If you get TV reception from rabbit ears or an antenna on your roof, the free analog signals that your TV has been grabbing out of the airwaves will no longer exist after February 2009. The government, with the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, is requiring that all television broadcasting of analog signals cease then. After that date, to get any reception on your older analog TV, you’ll need a converter box.

To help with the transition, the government has started the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The coupons, worth $40 each, will help defray the cost of the converter boxes, which are expected to cost approximately $50 to $70 each. Each household is allowed two coupons, and you have to apply for them.

A massive campaign is currently under way, and will continue right up until February 2009. To encourage people to get their coupons now, it’s said that there are a limited number of coupons. The problem is that the coupons are only good for 90 days, and consumers are being forced to make fast decisions.

There are two ways to look at it:

1) It’s a long time until February 2009. By then your analog TV might need replacing and you’ll end up buying a new digital TV anyway. And surely, knowing that millions of people will be shopping for new ones, televisions during the 2008 holiday season will be on sale at good prices.

2) You might want to go ahead and get a converter because it’s supposed to help you get more channels and better reception.

One thing is for certain: By February 2009, your old analog TV won’t get any channels. You’ll either end up buying a new digital TV, hooking up to satellite or cable service — or getting a converter box for your old set.

For information or to order your coupons, call 888-388-2009.

Go to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Web site ( www.ntiadtv.gov) for a list of converter boxes that are eligible under the coupon program, as well as a list of retailers who are authorized to sell them. You can also get an application for the coupon at www.dtv2009.gov, or request the coupon by mail: P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208.