|
 Beginning
February 17, 2009, U.S. television stations will stop
broadcasting analog signals and only broadcast digital
signals. Along with a clearer picture and improved sound
quality on your TV, digital broadcasting frees up airwaves
for emergency services like the police to communicate.
If
you use an analog TV with an antenna AND you don't subscribe
to a pay service like cable or satellite, you'll need
to do one of the following to keep getting TV reception:
- Option
1: purchase a digital-to-analog signal converter box
for each analog TV you own. A converter box
plugs into your analog TV, pulls in the digital signal
and then converts it so it will appear on your analog
TV. You can find convertor boxes (like
the one featured below) at your Fred Meyer Home
Electronics Center.
- Option
2: connect your analog TV to a cable, satellite or
other pay service. Make sure this new subscription
includes local channels.
- Option
3: purchase a new LCD or Plasma TV –
they include a digital tuner that will receive digital
signals. For more information on choosing a new TV,
click into LCD vs.
Plasma – which is best for me?
Check
your owner's manual or manufacturer's website to see
if your TV has a digital tuner. Or take a look at your
set: if you see labels like "Digital Input"
or "ATSC," you have a digital TV.
From
now through March 31, 2009, you can request up to two
$40 coupons to use toward the cost of digital-to-analog
converter boxes. Only one $40 coupon may be used for
each box. You can apply for coupons by:
- going
to www.DTV2009.gov
-
calling:
1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009)
1-877-530-2634 (English TTY)
1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY)
-
mailing a coupon application to:
PO Box 2000
Portland, OR 97208-2000
-
faxing a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
 
- Reg.
$49.99 – just $9.99 when you use one of your
two $40 converter coupons from www.DTV2009.gov
- Digital
Tuner – allows Analog TVs to receive digital
signals
-
RF Pass Through – this unique feature allows
local channels with low-signal programming to be received
-
Certified by the NTIA (National Telecommunications
and Information Administration)
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