Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Jonny Green [Click to enlarge]

The national crossover from analog to digital television has been moved from Feb. 17 to June 12.

Congress decreed the change of all full-power television stations from analog to digital signals with the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The original switchover date was changed by Congress to allow citizens more time to adjust to the switch.

Although the deadline was extended to accommodate families trying to make the switch, some students say there has been ample time to act on the change.

"I think that the government has been talking about the Digital TV switch for so long now, that if anyone isn't prepared, it's their fault," said senior mechanical engineering major Alex Janecke.

The change in the U.S. has been mirrored across the globe, as multiple countries have already made the switch from analog to digital television power. Digital power will allow television quality to increase in picture and sound. The change from analog power will also free up airwaves for future technological services.

"Back home, over winter break, they had already gotten it [digital television]," said Greg Faoro, a sophomore ocean engineering major. "I don't think digital TV lives up to the hype. I don't understand why they had to make the change."

The switch will cause all analog televisions without cable service or a converter box to lose reception of television stations. Households that receive cable or satellite television or have a television with digital capabilities will not be affected.

The federal government has spent considerable time and money preparing the nation to insure that no household is left without a working television after June. Digital conversion boxes, which plug into any television set, are able to convert the digital signal into a signal that can be interpreted by older television sets. The boxes are available at many store locations for $40 to $70.

Since Jan. 1, 2008, a government program has been offering up to two coupons per household for the purchase of a digital converter box. The mandated deadline for converter coupons was set at March 31. However, the program ran out of funding on Jan. 4. The TV Converter Box Coupon Program is accepting applications for coupons through the online server. The coupon requests will be filed on a first-come, first-served basis as funds become available.

The lack of funds in the TV Converter Box Coupon Program has been added to the stress of the government's economic pressures.

"At this point in our economy, I think it's unwise to set aside $50 million in the stimulus package for more coupons," said Trey Faver, a senior aerospace engineering major.

The delay in the deadline has also left some students questioning if the government will follow through on the crossover promise.

"I would honestly be surprised if they ever got about to it," Janecke said. "There have been so many delays."

Although the national deadline is June 12, many television stations have already changed from analog to digital power. As of now, 1,631 of 1,760 television stations across the country have made the switch. People are to rescan the television stations after June 12 to insure they have picked up all newly switched digital stations.

Get a coupon
To apply for a digital converter box coupon, visit the Web site www.dtv2009.gov.

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