How to Deal With the Phase out of Analog TV

TV as we know it is changing forever. In February 2009, the planned phase out of standard analog television begins. Saying that around 40 million households use only analog cable, late in 2007 the FCC ruled that cable companies, who’d pushed for finalizing the transition in 2009, must guarantee analog cable customers will receive broadcast channels until February 2012. After that, the only TV signal will be digital. Regular analog TV broadcasts over a wide spectrum. The government plans to free up this spectrum, selling off segments to expand broadband access to meet future technology demands. So what does this mean to consumers who don’t have HD-TV? How do we deal with the phase out of analog TV?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A digital converter box
• A DVD player or recorder (option)
• A non-HD TV with a built-in digital tuner
• A federal government voucher
• A new HD-TV (option)

1. You won’t have to throw out your old TV once the phase out begins in 2009. You have options. If you subscribe to cable, your TV will automatically carry the digital signal for clear viewing.

2. If you subscribe to the Internet for TV with AT&T or Verizon, your programs will automatically come through in digital.

3. The least expensive option is to purchase a converter box. This guarantees you won’t lose either quality or your favorite television show. The box is a digital tuner with analog output that lets older televisions receive digital transmissions after the phase out begins. Contact your cable company for this.

4. Each household can now apply for up to 2 $40 vouchers the federal government offers for use against the cost of purchasing converter boxes. You still have to pay the balance, which runs between $10 to $30. The boxes themselves cost $50 to $70 each. You can go online to apply.
   During the first phase of this program, 22.5 million coupons should be available. You can make requests for coupons until March 31, 2009. Coupons expire 3 months after being issued.

5. You may not need to worry if you forget to apply for coupons in time. If the first wave of coupons runs out, Congress could authorize another $450 million, creating up to 11,250,000 more vouchers. But only households claiming they rely on “over-the-air” TV could get them.

6. Here’s another bright spot. If you’ve bought a TV lately, you could be in good shape. As of March 2007, almost all televisions have been SDTV (standard-definition television that includes a built-in digital tuner) so you’ll be able to get the digital signal just fine.

7. Still not satisfied? You could always purchase a DVD player or recorder that’s equipped with a digital tuner and use that instead. Just hook it to your analog television.

8. The last and most expensive option is to purchase a high definition television (HD-TV). You can’t beat them for top quality, but they have a price tag to match. The key with this phase out of analog TV is don’t panic. There are a number of options, most of them are fairly affordable. Deciding which to use may be your toughest choice!

Resources

• Go online to apply
• TV coupons