Representative of the Federal Communications Commission to Visit Indianola to Explain the Digital Television Transition
If you receive your television signals by way of an antenna – as opposed to cable or satellite – there are several steps you will need to take to keep receiving signals after February 17. It is on that date that television stations nationwide will move to only-digital broadcasts. Mark Berlin of the Federal Communications Commission will hold a public forum at the Indianola City Hall, 110 N. First Street on Wednesday evening, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. to explain the transition and answer whatever questions the public might have.
Digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and digital is much more efficient than analog signals, which is how we have previously received television signals. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program per channel at a time, digital will allow as many as four programs at the same time. This means more programming choices for viewers. But if your television set is not equipped to receive digital signals, you will lose all television service on February 17. Everyone will have three choices. First, if you receive the Des Moines television stations by cable or satellite, you will likely continue to receive them after the transition, although there are some small cable systems in rural areas that may not have installed digital equipment. Also, if you have recently purchased a new digitally tuned television set, you will also be in good shape. But if you receive your television signals through a roof-top antenna or “rabbit-ears” antenna, you are going to need to take some action in order to continue receiving signals.
Mr. Berlin will take applications on-the-spot for free governmental $40 coupons for digital converter boxes. He will also give suggestions on the type of converter box you should get and will explain how to connect it to your television. If you are in the affected group, it is important that you act now. Government coupons will only be available until March 31, and it is also expected that manufacturers will not be making many converter boxes after that time. So if you don’t act soon, you may be left with no television signals at all. Even if you won’t be adversely affected by the digital television transition, if you know people who are, you should attend to get information for them.
