WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. residents needing digital converters for their televisions in preparation for the coming shift from analog technology should act soon, experts say.
Telecommunications officials said with the entire nation switching over to digital signals on Feb. 17, 2009, those residents currently with analog TV sets could soon be without TV service, USA Today reported Friday.
"You should deal with this now," National Telecommunications and Information Administration spokesman Todd Sedmak said.
"We're encouraging people to apply for coupons by the end of the year," National Association of Broadcasters spokeswoman Linda Yun offered.
Sedmak's group, which is in charge of dispersing coupons for the converters under the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, told USA Today NTIA officials have already handed out more than 41 million coupons. The federal coupon program is funded by the $19 billion airwaves auction.
The $40 coupons were created to help offset the cost of the converters, which cost between $40 and $70, to consumers.
The newspaper said, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, nearly 70 million of the nation's estimated 296 million total televisions will be impacted by the digital changeover. The impacted analog televisions are those that rely upon antennas for signals.
