April 7, 2009, may become “the day analog TV died,” according to a draft bill currently before the Senate Commerce Committee. On that date, if the bill is passed, analog television broadcasts will cease and the switch to digital signal transmission will be complete.
The biggest impact of the change will be felt by the millions of Americans who receive their TV broadcasts via aerial antennas. They will have to buy new digital TV sets or set-top converter boxes in order to bring in the digital signals. Congress is studying the feasibility of offering a federal subsidy of undetermined size to help those people afford new equipment.
Satellite subscribers will not be affected by the change because their signals already are in digital format. Cable TV companies are expected to receive government approval to translate digital to analog for their customers who retain older equipment.
TV broadcasts have been in analog format since they first appeared in the mid-20th century. The mandatory switch to digital signals is part of an effort to free analog spectrum desperately needed to improve public safety and emergency transmissions (like those among police and fire department radios).
As a side effect, the switch also is expected to produce at least $10 billion in federal revenue as the government auctions off spectrum to private companies that want to use it for wireless Internet access and other high-tech projects.
The bill also will set aside money to help so-called “first responders” buy new equipment.
Why April 7? Sports, of course. Congressional aides said the date was chosen because the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball championships end on April 6. The Senate bill differs markedly from the date favored by House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Tex.). Barton favors Dec. 31, 2008, as the cutoff, but that could disrupt broadcast reception of New Year’s Day college football bowl games.
