Making the switch to digital television Editorial |
 Jeremy Martinez / The South Texan |
Starting Feb. 17, 2009, say goodbye to analog television and hello to digital television (DTV).
The transition will be a difficult one for families to embrace since all television households who have not taken the proper steps for the switch will lose television reception. Fortunately, the U.S.
Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is offering an alternative to make sure this does not happen to as many families as possible. But is enough been done? We think not.
The average student here at the university, for example, is not aware of the change. Perhaps their parents know or they have been too busy text messaging each other about other pertinent information.
How did this come about? The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 passed by Congress requires all over-the air broadcast television stations to turn off their analog channels on the set date and switch broadcasting immediately in digital.
While DTV benefits are remarkable (better sound, movie-quality pictures, more channels to choose from), the decision for the transition is due to DTV’s flexibility and efficiency as a new technology rather than analog. Once the switch is made, television stations will be able to broadcast several channels of programming at once, known as “multicasting.”
There are steps that need to be taken in order for families to insure that the household receives digital service depending on the household’s current television situation.
The approximately 19.6 million households who receive over-the-air television signals through antennas on television sets operating with analog tuners and who do not have cable, satellite or telephone company television service provider will be directly affected by the transition.
Consumers should do one of three options. 1. Purchase a DTV converter box made to convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set. 2. Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. 3. Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider.
With eyebrows raised, many families, particularly the lower and middle class, fear a once household comfort will be too costly and/or confusing. This is where the government has decided to lend a helping hand in order to get families hooked up on digital.
Since the analog to digital transition was ordered, Congress has set aside $1.5 billion for the coupon program, in which will help fund over 33.5 million $40 coupons which are to be given to families who need help in purchasing a converter box. Only two $40 coupons per household will be administered to those who request.
Since the beginning of January, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has been accepting re quests via email or phone from households who wish to buy the converter boxes which are estimated to cost between $50 and $70 at electronic retail stores. Apply for the coupon program at www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009.
Congress deserves a pat on the back for trying to get the ball rolling on the coupon program but perhaps there should be more concern in getting the word about the transition out to the public more readily than what has recently been done.
According to the Associated Press, an alarming 51 percent of people surveyed by the Association of Public Television Stations in September were unaware of the transition taking place.
But, are we ready? We think not.
For that reason, the government and the NTIA should do a better job of spreading the word of the transition from analog to digital.
It should start a rigorous information campaign informing all about the steps that need to be taken in order to continue to receive a signal. If not thousands, if not millions, of households will find themselves without a picture.