If you still watch television with an analog set hooked to an outside antenna or "rabbit ears," you'll need to make note of the date February 17, 2009. One year from this Sunday all analog signals from the majority of America's television stations will cease and only digital television broadcasting will occur. If you're not ready for the conversion to digital TV by then, you could be watching snow.

For the vast majority of American TV viewers, the changeover from old fashioned analog broadcasting to the new digital format will have little to no impact. It is estimated that less than ten percent of American households still watch television using an analog set connected to an "over-the-air" receiving antenna, such as "rabbit ears" or an outside aerial. Much of the nation is now subscribing to cable or satellite-delivered television which should not be impacted by the analog to digital transition a year from now.

If you are one of the ten percent of the population still watching your TV programs with an analog set and rabbit ears or outside TV aerial, you can get ready for the switchover to digital TV now. Congress has approved coupons for special converter boxes to enable analog TV sets to receive digital signals. Every American household can apply for two of these coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of two eligible converter boxes. The coupons must be presented at the time of purchase. Major consumer electronics stores are already preparing to sell these converter boxes.

To apply for converter box coupons and to find out more about this program and participating merchants selling converter boxes, you can visit the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) website at www.dtv2009.gov, or call toll-free 1-888-388-2009, or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).

As previously noted, most American TV viewers should not see any service disruption next year since cable and satellite TV services will continue to offer local channel programming in the analog format to their subscribers. However, many of these same companies are encouraging their subscribers to upgrade to digital service for increased performance.

In 1996, Congress ordered the shift from analog to digital television broadcasting due its superior technology and greater efficiency. Digital technology offers much more to the television viewer, including improved picture and sound quality and the option of "high definition" (HDTV) service. Furthermore, your local TV stations will also be able to broadcast more programming via digital sub-channels. Most television stations in Alabama are already broadcasting in digital format, in addition to their analog signals. So you don't have to wait until 2009 to begin enjoying this new technology.

To help prepare for the transition, beginning in 2007 all TV sets imported into America are required to have a digital tuner to enable them to receive digital broadcasts without the need of the aforementioned converter box. If you are not sure that your new set has a digital tuner, check the set's documentation or ask the store where it was purchased.

Another benefit of the switchover from analog to digital television broadcasting will be the freeing up of former analog frequency spectrum for community first responders and other emergency communications. Still other spectrum will be available to meet the country's demand for new wireless broadband service.

Be sure you're ready for the conversion to digital TV broadcasting come February 17, 2009. For more information, visit www.dtv.gov.