The Federal Communications Commission began the switch many years ago to free up a large chunk of US airwaves, which the government is in the process of auctioning off, a process that will net billions of dollars for public coffers. Making all UHF broadcast spectrum above channel 52 available will allow for powerful new wireless services, and possibly for a new network for public safety officials to use during disasters.
Most US TV stations already broadcast digital signals as well as analog. What's happening a year from today is they'll switch off the analog signals. No one with cable or satellite service will be affected, nor will anyone who gets stations over the air with a newer TV with a digital tuner.
Those who will be affected are the 13 million or so households that get TV broadcasts exclusively over the air and have a TV more than a few years old - or even a newer TV that's relatively small. Also affected are TVs not connected to cable, even if a home has cable.
A Nielsen Co. study released Friday found that 16.8 percent of all US households have at least one analog television set that would not work following the switch. And Hispanics are nearly twice as likely as whites to be without TV reception.
Affected households can get a digital converter box, buy a new television, or sign up for cable or satellite service or one of the newer cable-like services being offered by phone companies.
A government program said Friday that it will begin sending out coupons Tuesday worth $40 each to any US household that requests them to subsidize buying a converter box. Each household is entitled to two coupons for the boxes, which are just coming into stores now and start at $40 or $50, making this option easy and practically free. The government says it has funds for 33 million coupons. To get one, go to www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009.
