Television is the media that opens people to a world of ideas and visions of what can and might happen. It is our responsibility to be able to tell what is truth from friction when it comes to the news that enters our homes and work places. Because of the consolidation of media outlets owned by just a few now, it has become even more difficult to discern what is news from someone's undue influence.
A few more people know by now that a year from this month over-the-air analog television will be no more. Federal law requires that on February 17, 2009 most television broadcast stations have to stop broadcasting in analog and broadcast only in digital. There are many in the US that do not subscribe to either satellite or cable and feel that the television that they have now is just fine.
U.S. households can get coupons for a digital-to-analog converter box from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The two coupons are worth 40 dollars and can be taken to many electronic retailers (Best Buy, CircuitCity, etc) to get these boxes. The website for the coupons is at www.dtv2009.gov.
Broadcasters cried the blues about the original cut-off two years ago so the government pushed the date up. Since then, the government put aside 1.5 billion dollars for education and subsidies to help consumers make this change. I think they should had make it more money and started the education sooner.
The government says that this change will only affect a small amount of televisions in the US because most have cable or satellite service. But for those who get television over-the-air because of where they live or the cost, the switch will hit them the hardest. There are still people in the US that use television as their main source of entertainment because they can't afford much else.
