The countdown to the digital television transition is in its final months — will your television work come February?
“For those who rely on over-the-air television, if you don’t take some action between now and Feb. 17, 2009, you’re going to lose your television signal,” Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Copps said Monday at the Sandtown-Winchester Senior Center in Baltimore.
Copps and other FCC representatives were in town to prepare city residents for the digital television revolution. Under the direction of Congress, the move will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders, improving public safety, while providing a clearer television picture and more channels for consumers.
About 130,000 households rely on over-the-air television and will need to take action before the digital switch in February to keep their televisions operating, Copps said.
Those households have three options to prepare for the change: Purchase a new digital television, upgrade to a digital cable or satellite service or purchase a television converter box to use with an existing television.
A TV converter box will keep an analog television working after Feb. 17. The box costs between $40 and $70 and is available at most retailers.
Congress also created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households to obtain up to two discount vouchers, each worth $40, that can be used toward the purchase of convertor boxes.
“The time to deal with this thing is right now,” Copps said.
At the senior center in Baltimore Monday, FCC representatives helped city residents sign up for the coupons while DTV Project Manager Roger Goldblatt showed people how to connect the converter box to their home television. Copps and others urged the residents in attendance to tell their neighbors about the upcoming transition.
“People know about it, but the more educated they get, the better off they’ll be,” said Baltimore resident Linda Moyd. “I have my converter box, but I came here to learn how to use it correctly.”
How to get your coupons
» Apply online at dtv2009.gov
» Call 888-DTV-2009
» Mail an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000
Coupons are good for 90 days from the date they’re mailed
