The end of TV as we know it

Mike James/The Independent

Ironton May 21, 2008 11:43 pm

— The end of a television era is fast approaching and those who want to keep watching had better be prepared, a Federal Communications Commission official said Wednesday.
On Feb. 17, TV stations will switch from analog signals to digital, said Gary Westby, an electronics engineer for the FCC. Westby spoke to a gathering of electronic media types at Ohio University Southern during a community engagement day for the WOUB public radio and television system.
After the switch, analog TVs won’t pick up over-the-air signals without a special converter box. The boxes are sold in stores and cost between $40 and $70.
To offset the cost of the converter boxes, the U.S. government offers two $40 coupons per household. The coupons come with lists of local merchants that sell the boxes.
Analog TVs connected to a cable or satellite system won’t be affected, and neither will digital TVs, which have a built-in tuner that picks up the digital signals.
The switch is mandated under federal law to free up frequencies for emergency communications such as police and fire. It also opens up more of the electromagnetic spectrum for the burgeoning wireless industry and will allow existing TV stations to upgrade their picture and sound quality.
The FCC is publicizing the switch in part for the benefit of the poor and elderly, groups that are most at risk of losing their TV connection, Westby said.
They are the groups most likely to depend on a broadcast signal, he said. “This is the generation that doesn’t throw anything away,” he said.
Also, older people tend to depend on TV for emergency warnings, he said. “We’re concerned that they’ll wait till one day everything is black.”
Another concern is vulnerability to fraud, he said. It is possible that scam artists could sell faulty, overpriced or bogus equipment to unsuspecting consumers, he said.
The key for consumers is to know what is needed and why, he said. The difference between digital and high-definition TV confuses some consumers. A high-definition TV isn’t needed to receive the digital signal.
Also, a new antenna isn’t necessary if the current one brings in good-quality reception.
Already, TV stations are running public service announcements outlining the switch. Time Warner Cable, for instance, runs spots on all its channels and includes information with bills, said general manager Russ Pomfrey.
Much confusion still remains, said Mark Brewer, chief content officer for WOUB. Brewer said he spoke to a group of consumers, one of whom did not realize his new flat-screen TV had an analog tuner. Another was confused over when she should buy and start using her converter box.
Consumers can get more information at www.dtv.gov.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.