Dear Frind:
On February 17, 2009, analog over-the-air television broadcasts will be shut off. The transition to digital television was mandated by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. I voted against that legislation in part due to my concerns about the digital transition. But I have been working with my colleagues in Congress and officials at the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that the effort goes as smoothly as possible. This recent letter I sent to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is just one example.
As the transition date nears, you should make sure that you and your family are prepared. Households without cable or satellite service or a digital television set will no longer be able to receive a signal unless they buy a digital-to-analog converter box to hook up to their older, analog television set. Consumers can request up to two $40 coupons from the federal government to partially subsidize the purchase of converter boxes at http://www.dtv2009.gov/. It is highly recommended that you request a coupon immediately to ensure that you receive it in time to purchase and install a digital converter box before the transition occurs.
As the few remaining weeks before the February 17 deadline go by, you can be assured that I will continue to work to ensure that the Commerce Department and the FCC do everything they can to make this process go as smoothly as possible.
Sincerely,
KENT CONRAD
United States Senate
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