For the last couple years the FCC has been pushing the citizens of the USA to get ready for the Digital Television Conversion set for February 17, 2009. Look for a announcement soon of a bill in congress to push the conversion back. The only way the conversion date can be changed is by a act of congress since the conversion is set up as a law and mandated to be completed 2/17/09.

The US Government has run out of money for converter box coupons. It is estimated that over a million people have applied for the coupons but will not receive them until the Government can find the money. We have heard estimates of up to 3 million people will be out of luck until this issue is resolved.

New President Barrack Obama is said to be for a postponement as current President Bush is against any delay. Whatever the case as far a politics go this issue can only be solved by the passing of a law allowing a changed for the conversion deadline.

Most TV Stations around the US have done their testing and have even started broadcasting the DTV Signals. Any delay could cost local and cable stations money by having to retain the personal longer they hired to handle the conversion and having to broadcast two signals for a indefinite amount of time. Why indefinite? We all know how slow our congress works.

The US Government is making the change to digital TV (DTV) for 2 reasons. The first is to free up more bandwidth which they can sell to the highest bidder and second is to improve or update the outdated system.

With 36 days left Congress had better get something done quick

The 110th Congress, 2nd Session, House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill allowing television stations to broadcast emergency and informational messages in analog format in the days following the DTV change over February 17, 2009.

The bill still needs to be signed by President Bush. This bill should alleviate concerns from citizens worried about receiving emergancy announcements from local broadcasters about weather conditions or any other warning from The Emergency Broadcast System and Public Safety Information

The bill will require the Federal Communications Commission to provide for a short-term extension of the analog television broadcasting authority so that essential public safety announcements and digital television transition information may be provided for a short time during the transition to digital television broadcasting

Television stations like 9news in Colorado are going to do what they are calling a "soft test" of DTV on November 17, 2008.

With less than 100 days until the nationwide change over to Digital Television on February 17, 2009 municipalities are pressuring local TV Stations to start testing their DTV Signals.

If you live in Colorado the test of DTV will happen twice. The 1st test will be between 11AM and 1PM Mountain Time and again between 5PM and 11PM, MT. If you have any difficulties viewing you local television station you may have a issue. If you have Cable TV or HD Satellite television you should be OK. If you do have a issue viewing normally contact your service provider ASAP.

Most newer televisions have built in Digital Converters, but some older models do not and you will need a converter box by February 17, 2009.