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FCC Wants Consumer Alerts About Analog TVs

Conversion to digital broadcasting in 2007 will render analog sets obsolete

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 18, 2007

• Digital TV Transition Threatens Portables • Retailers Giving Bad Advice on Digital TV Transition • Glitches Abound in Digital Television Transition • GAO: Digital TV Switchover Mostly On Track • FCC Loosens Digital TV Rules for Retailers, Manufacturers • Consumers Having Problems with Digital TV Converter Coupons • Millions May Lose TV Service After Digital Switchover • 23 Million TV Sets May Go Dark In DTV Switchover • High-Definition TV Doesn't Have to be Expensive • FCC Wants Consumer Alerts About Analog TVs • Free No More: Conversion to Digital TV Carries a Price Tag • Feds Will Foot Bill for Digital TV Conversion Kits • Consumers Could Benefit from Transition to Digital TV • Life, Liberty and Digital TV --- • More about Home Electronics ...

Would you buy a new television set that will become obsolete in a little more than a year?

That's just what you'll be doing if you buy an analog TV, which will be practically useless once TV broadcasters go digital on February 17, 2009.

The Federal Communications Commission may take steps to ensure that consumers are made aware about the impending change.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has told Congress that he thinks TV broadcasters should be required to air announcements several times a day, making consumers aware that they may have to take additional steps in order to watch TV.

Consumers with analog TVs will have to get a converter box to receive over-the-air signals once TV stations start broadcasting digitally. Those with a satellite TV service or digital cable will not need a converter box.

In this age of flat-screen digital sets, does anyone still buy analog TVs?

Apparently so. In fact, this week retailer Best Buy announced it would immediately stop selling analog sets. In a statement, the retailer said it was pulling analog sets from its shelves “as the analog broadcast era draws to an end.”

An estimated 60 million U.S. homes still rely on over-the-air reception or analog cable systems. Cable systems currently relying on the old technology have until 2012 to switch over to digital.

Beginning in 2008, the U.S. government says it will provide coupons to each household that can be used to purchase up to two converter boxes. The converter boxes will be available from retailers that currently sell TVs and other electronics.

Meanwhile, consumers could soon begin seeing public service announcements telling them what they have to do in order to receive digital TV. Martin told a House subcommittee that he thinks other FCC commissioners will go along with his proposal.

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