Your students and the switch to digital telelvision
On June 12, 2009, television stations in the United States changed to digital broadcasting. If your students have cable or satellite television, they shouldn’t have noticed any change. However, if your students use an antenna and their television was bought more than a year ago, they would have found that they no longer have access to television and instead get a blue screen with a phone number listed.
Your students have three options for accessing this new digital broadcasting:
- Sign up for cable or satellite TV
- Buy a new TV
- Get a converter box
The following link is to the government web site describing a converter box coupon program and the switch in general.
https://www.dtv2009.gov/ (NOTE: This link is no longer available)
This site offers important information in several languages.
Applications for TV converter box coupons are being fulfilled while supplies last, until July 31, 2009. Currently the form asks only for name and address, and not more detailed information like a social security number.
The site above also lists retailers for converter boxes if your students would prefer not to apply for a coupon.