Why do all television sets have to be upgraded to Digital by Feb. 2009?

Question

Just wondering the reason why, and who mandated this in Congress..?

Answer 1

Why the switch?

DTV technology is more flexible and efficient than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will allow television stations to offer crystal-clear pictures and sound, plus more channels and programming – all for free. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to turn off their analog channels by February 17, 2009 and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format.

Going all-digital will free up parts of the airwaves for future innovative services by entrepreneurs. TV stations can also improve their services with enhanced closed captioning, better pictures and sound, and offer several channels of programmming at the same time, known as "multicasting."

Today, 1,624 out of 1,760 full-power television stations nationwide already offer digital programming in every market in America.

Who's affected?

If you use an antenna to watch TV on a set that has an analog tuner – and don't subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service – you will need to upgrade to digital television by February 17, 2009.

At least 19.6 million households receive over-the-air signals exclusively in their homes, and 14.9 million households have secondary over-the-air TV sets in their bedrooms or kitchens. Overall, nearly 70 million television sets are at risk of losing their signals.

Consumers have three options to continue getting television reception:

Purchase a DTV converter box for your existing TV set

Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner

Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, if that carrier offers the local broadcast stations you want

Note that the transition only applies to full-power TV stations. Some low-power stations will remain in analog, so you may need specific equipment to watch analog and digital broadcasting after the transition. "Pass-through" converter boxes allow your TV set to receive both analog and digital signals.

Answer 2

congress as a whole mandated this several years ago