From the San Jose Mercury News:
Attention old analog TV set users: If you haven't already, you may want to apply for the $40 coupons the government is offering for converter boxes that will allow your old and faithful TV to receive digital signals.
The U.S. plans to abandon traditional analog broadcasts on Feb. 17, 2009.
Under the federal program each household is entitled to two coupons. They can be requested online at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.
EchoStar, the parent company of Dish Network, announced that it will sell a digital TV converter box for $39.99. The company said its TR-40 converter box will be available in limited quantities in March and unlimited quantities in June.
Other companies have announced that their converter boxes will cost around $60 to $70.
The feds have received requests from more than 1 million households since Jan. 1, according to the Commerce Department, which is overseeing the program.
The coupon program is aimed at owners of traditional analog sets who view over-the-air broadcast TV. Those sets will not work after the digital switch without a converter box. If you receive your TV signals via cable or satellite, you will not be affected.
Analog is the process of taking an audio or video signal and translating it into electronic pulses. Digital, on the other hand, breaks the signal into a series of ones and zeros. Congress ordered the switch to digital television because it will free up valuable airwaves for other uses, such as for police and fire departments. The change should also lead to improved picture and sound for TV viewers.
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