Experts warn of digital TV problems

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Some experts say the impending switch from analog to digital TV signals in the United States will result in problems for some households.

Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America research director, said while there have been some broadcast warnings regarding the TV changeover 100 days from Sunday, those messages may be inadequate for households without pay TV services, the Cox news service said.

"It would appear there will be a lot of people whose TV sets will go blank," Cooper said, referring to the estimated 13.4 million households currently without such enhanced services.

Cooper also warned that some TV owners are responding to the message by overspending on cable services rather than simply obtaining a $50 box to handle the new signal, the news service said.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, is heading up a Senate Commerce Committee inquiry into the digital changeover and says additional steps must be taken to ensure the Feb. 17, 2009, move does not become a nationwide mess.

"We have too many crises facing us at the moment," the committee chairman said of the current state of the nation.