If you have an analog TV that s not connected to cable or satellite service and instead receives a picture via “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna, it will stop receiving local broadcast TV signals as of February 17, 2009 when all TV broadcast stations will begin broadcasting exclusively in digital format.

In order to continue to receive broadcast signals for your analog TV, you will need to do one of the following:

• Purchase a digital converter box to use with your current TV; or
• Purchase a new digital TV; or
• Connect your analog TV to the cable or other video service provider.

The federal government is helping to offset the cost of digital converter boxes by providing discount coupons, but the coupons may take up to six weeks to arrive. If you are planning on applying for a coupon, you should do so before the end of the year to ensure that your coupons arrive before the transition on February 17, 2009.   The program allows each household to apply for up to two coupons, each of which provides a $40 discount off the price of a converter.  The converters retail anywhere between $40-$70.  To request a voucher either call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009, or visit https://www.dtv2009.gov .   If you already have coupons, please keep in mind that the coupons will expire 90 days from the date of issue.  Converters boxes can be purchased online and at your local electronics stores. 

For more information on the Digital TV transition, please check out the following website www.dtv.gov.