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You may have heard that on February 17, 2009, all TV stations will begin broadcasting exclusively in digital signals. Television companies are tired of taking the backseat to today’s techno-advances and are claiming their techie turn with an all-digital format. Not sure what that means? You’re not alone. Here’s the skinny: If you are one of the 22 million Americans who use free over-the-air analog broadcasting to watch television, just about one year from now your screen will go blank.

What’s worse is some big box electronics stores aren’t disclosing all the info to their unsuspecting customers. A recent “secret shopper” survey of retailers around the country conducted by consumer watchdog US PIRG revealed that electronics store clerks were often offering inaccurate and misleading information about the DTV transition. Luckily, the truth is that there are plenty of resources out there. So read on before you head out to buy a brand new set, because, as it turns out, you just don’t need one.

Despite what some electronic companies might say, customers with older analog TVs who receive over-the-air television don’t need to buy a brand new television set. Their old sets will work just fine, with the proper conversion box. While they won’t get off scot-free (conversion kits run about $40-$70), it’s much easier on the checkbook than a brand new TV.

It’s time to demystify the transition!

What’s the deal with the coupons?
Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed and can only be used on eligible models (basic converters) at eligible retailers. Currently Best Buy, Radio Shack, Circuit City and Wal-Mart are selling eligible converter boxes. You may want to call to check that local stores have adequate stocks of converters before you order your coupons. You can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009 or until supplies run out. You can locate retailers near you here: dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx

Do I need to worry if I already use cable or satellite?
If your TV is connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, you won’t need a TV converter box from this program. You should, however, check with your provider on their plans, as some providers may move some or all of their programming to a digital tier (which could cost you more money in monthly fees).

How does this affect me if I live in a rural area or a place with poor reception?
Translator and low-power television stations are not required to go all-digital after February 17, 2009. Viewers of these broadcast stations should contact their station for details. As these stations go digital, consumers will need to take action to continue to receive their free TV with an antenna and may want to consider applying for TV converter box coupons.

Will I need to buy a new antenna?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that anyone owning an antenna that is capable of receiving analog signals should be able to use that same antenna to receive digital signals. So you should probably try to use your old antenna before buying a new one. However, some stations will be moving to a different channel in a different frequency band that may require a different antenna type from the one you may now have. For example, some channels in the VHF band (Channels 2-13) may be moving to the UHF band (Channels 14-51) and vice versa. Here’s a tool we found that will help you figure out what type of antenna you need: antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

What if I want more information?
If you have more questions, check out dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx or call 1-888-DTV-2009.

To find out where to get a coupon to offset the cost of the converter box, read the report and see what they’re saying about this in the news, check out uspirg.org/media-internet/dtv?id4=ES.

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