|
||||||||||||
|
|
Will your TV be ready for digital?
One year from now, television stations across the country will shut off their analog signal and only send out digital transmissions. Milt Goldstein wants to make sure he's ready. He says, "I never had TV until I was in my 30's." At 84-years-old, he has seen television evolve from its birth in black in white, to color and soon to digital. He says television is important to many older Americans who don't have access to the internet. He says, "It's very important. That's where we get our news from." So today, with the help of our photographer, he outfitted his old analog TV and rabbit ears with a digital converter box. He's ahead of the game, but the television industry is worried about other older Americans who may not be ready when broadcasters turn off analog signals and go digital next year. So today at Best Buy in Richfield, Senator Amy Klobuchar was among those holding a press conference trying to educate the public about the switchover. She says, " This digital transition? is going to provide clearer pictures and sharper sound while freeing up airways for emergency responders." Klobuchar was joined by members of the television industry as well as AARP. Essentially, you will need a digital converter box if you do not have cable, satellite or a newer TV. And there are a good number of Minnesotans like that. Jim du Bois of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association says, "Twenty-one percent of all households throughout Minnesota only receive their television through an over the air signal. In the Twin Cities that number is 23%. Those are among the highest percentages of over the air receptions only in the U.S." You can now buy a digital converter box for 40 to 70 dollars. A voucher for a 40 discount is available from the government. Skip Humphrey of AARP says, "I urge you to check with your older neighbors and relatives to make sure that they know about the conversion and have what they need as this process goes forward." Broadcasters are also concerned about folks in rural areas, the homebound or low-income people who may not know how to get a converter box or a voucher. Goldstein admits he needed someone's help to install the converter box. He's glad he's now ready. Not only that, he's happy with how much better the digital signal comes in on his TV compared to what he used to get with the old technology known as rabbit ears. He says, "It's clear. It's great. Its as good as my new TV." To get vouchers for a digital converter box, up to two per household, call 1-888-dtv-2009 or go to www.dtv2009.gov.
|
 MORE HEADLINES |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
