Effort underway to get TV watchers without cable or dish ready for digital switchover on Feb. 17

The complete transition to digital television signals in the United States, slated for February 17, 2009, could impact a significant number of households in the four northern counties of New Hampshire, including Belknap County, where industry officials estimate between 10-percent and 15-percent of households receive their telecast signal on an analog TV "over-the-air," through an outdoor antenna or "rabbit ears."

To assist residents with the transition, WMUR-Channel 9, MetroCast Cablevision and New Hampshire Public Television will host a town meeting at the Laconia Public Library on Thursday, January 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

"It is a big confusing event," said Alex Jasiukowicz, creative services director, at WMUR-Channel 9. He said that across the state between 5-percent and 7-percent of households with "over-the-air reception" to analog TVs will be affected by the transition, but the number rises further north where there are fewer households that subscribe to a cable or satellite service.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advises that "if you watch over-the-air programs on an analog TV, you must take action before February 17." Households receiving telecasts through a paid provider, either cable or satellite, will not be affected by the transition because signals are translated from digital to analog for them. The FCC spells out three options for addressing the transition.

First, analog televisions can be connected to a digital-to-analog converter box. Converter boxes are available through retail outlets at prices ranging between $40 and $70. To assist with the transition the federal government offers two $40 coupons per household to meet the cost of a certified converter box. Applications for coupons are available at Laconia City Hall, or can be requested on-line at www.DTV2009.gov, by telephone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), by mail at P.O. Box 2000, Portland OR 97208 or by fax at 1-877-DTV-4ME2.

Alternatively, reception can be ensured by purchasing a digital television, which need not be a high definition television (HDTV) set. Finally, households with analog televisions can subscribe to a cable, satellite or other paid provider.

Jasiukowicz urged viewers to determine whether their reception will be affected by the transition and to take timely steps to address it, warning that it may take three or four weeks to receive a coupon and purchase a converter box.