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WHAT IT IS? By federal law most TV stations will switch from analog to digital broadcasting on Feb.17, 2009. WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR YOU? If you don’t learn about this digital TV transition and some of the choices you have, you, or family members, including millions of people with disabilities, might end up looking at a blank TV screen on February 17, 2009. That is -- unless you buy a new digital TV or pay for TV (cable, satellite or phone company) OR get a converter box -- your TV will be dead. Maybe some static and snow! No news. No sports. No favorite TV shows. Nothing about school closings. No information about wicked weather or emergency situations. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CARE ABOUT THIS? We know there are millions of people with disabilities who can’t afford to buy new digital TVs or don’t want to choose to buy one. And, there are millions who can’t afford cable or satellite TV service – these TV companies will convert to digital so these subscribers don’t need do anything. BUT over one third of TV households who use “rabbit ear” antennas include a person with a disability! And this includes people with disabilities who rely on captioning and video description of TV shows. Viewers watching and hearing TV using “rabbit ears” or another antenna will see nothing but static and snow on February 17, 2009 if they do nothing WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE TV WORKING? To keep using that analog TV set, viewers MUST get a digital-to-analog signal converter box (or purchase pay TV service). Converter boxes cost about $40-$60, a one time purchase. It’s a device about the size of a paperback book. You can get two coupons worth $40 each per household to help pay for the converter box. Most converter boxes will pass through the captioning but check it works first! Even if you have cable or satellite, but also use an old TV in the basement, you are still eligible for a coupon. And there are no income limits to eligibility WHERE DO I GET THE COUPON? ABOUT THE DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION
CLOSED CAPTIONING AND TV CONVERTER BOXES CONVERTER BOX COUPON PROGRAM COUPON APPLICATION LOW POWER TELEVISION (LPTV) AND THE DTV TRANSITION ANTENNAS OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION TAKE THE DTV QUIZ TO BECOME A DTV DEPUTY! List compiled by the Telecommunications and Technology Policy Initiative, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), 1629 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. For further information, please email Jenifer Simpson.
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