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Digital TV switchover looms

06:30 PM CST on Tuesday, January 6, 2009

By TOM HARRIS
KVUE News

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KVUE's Tom Harris reports

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Beginning in February 2009, television stations across the nation will broadcast only with a digital signal.

So what does that mean for you? Several meetings were held across Central Texas Tuesday to answer your questions.

It's estimated about 12 million households in the U.S. still get their TV reception from an antennae, and they will need a converter box to continue watching their TV's after the transition.

People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV will not need to make a change.

Debbie Bradford of Austin picked up a couple of digital converter boxes Tuesday. She had her two government coupons that will save her $80.

"I don't understand it a whole lot. I just know I have to get these converter boxes because they are changing signals -- the way the signals are going out," Bradford said.

The government just this week announced it has run out of money to fund the coupons for the converter boxes. However, you can still put your name on a waiting list.

New coupons will be handed out when those already in circulation expire and go unused.

"Don't let that scare you," said Louis Sigalos, FCC outreach director. "You get up to two coupons per household -- $40 off on the purchase of a converter box, but you may just want to go out and purchase at least one converter box and make sure at least one TV is set to go, because you don't know when the coupons might arrive at your home."

About 97,000 households here in Austin receive a television signal over the air. It's estimated about 11 percent of those households are not ready for the switchover.

Bradford says she is happy she didn't procrastinate.

"I am so glad that I didn't wait until the last minute. I just wonder what all these other people are going to do when they find out they can't get coupons anymore?" she said.

The digital transition takes place February 17th.

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