Weekly Column:   –  “The date for the transition of over-the-air television signals to digital is fast approaching.  Unless it is moved back, the digital switch will take place on February 17th.

Unfortunately, several problems have emerged with the digital transition, which will replace analog tv signals with a digital signal.  Perhaps the biggest problem is the misinformation that dominates this subject at the appliance store and even in some news reports.

If you have cable or satellite television, you don’t need to do a thing.  Your television is already digital ready.  If you have rabbit ears or an exterior antenna, on the other hand, this message is for you: You do not need to buy a new TV!

Please note that you also do not need to switch to a subscription cable or satellite television service in order to continue to receive a signal, though that option is available to you.  The free, public broadcast signal transmitted by our local television stations will continue to operate.

Much salesmanship has surrounded the effort to transition to digital television.  Absolutely nothing is wrong with your television, however.  What you need is a converter box.  Though at times they have been in short supply, converter boxes are available at pretty much any store which sells televisions and numerous reputable sites on the Internet. 

In addition, the cost of these converter boxes is reduced by a coupon which is available from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  The NTIA has been issuing $40 coupons toward the purchase of the converter box, and they may still be available from the U.S. Department of Commerce.  A waiting list is in place for the coupons if the program receives more funding this year, and it can be accessed at www.dtv2009.gov.

Finally, a word of caution is necessary to viewers in rural areas.  When the analog signal being broadcast on February 16th stops on February 17th (or later), you may need to adjust your rabbit ears or exterior antenna to best pick up the new broadcast.  In some cases, the digital signal will be weaker than the analog television signal you are using today.  You can test your digital signal strength today by installing the converter box and switching it on.  If you are one of the few households expected to experience problems with the strength of your signal, you will still have time before the transition date to rectify your situation with a new or different antenna.

Our television signals are an important part of life in Southern Missouri.  Local, state and federal governments use these airwaves to communicate messages in times of emergency.  Our local news stations keep an eye on the weather throughout our region to alert us to extreme conditions, natural disasters and impending emergencies.  Many news professionals in our area count on the availability of a television signal in their viewers’ homes to deliver these and other messages.  For these reasons, making sure the digital transition succeeds is a high priority for the FCC, and it should be a priority in your household as well.

Even if you have already prepared for the digital transition, make a note to make sure family members who receive an over-the-air television signal have also acquired the converter box they need to continue to get television reception. 

More information is available on the digital television transition at www.dtv.gov or by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC.”