Released: March 27, 2008

Small stations claim digital TV switch will bankrupt them

Source: John Dunbar, Associated Press (USA Today)

The low-power television industry is facing a “death sentence” because of a flaw in the government’s plan to force broadcasters to shift to digital broadcasting and have asked a federal judge for a reprieve.

The Community Broadcasters Association, which represents owners of small television stations, wants the Federal Communications Commission to ban all digital set top converter boxes that are not equipped to receive an analog signal, a request that has the potential to derail the biggest broadcasting transition since color television.

As of Feb. 18, 2009, all full-power television stations in the U.S. are required to stop broadcasting an analog signal. Anyone who gets programming through an antenna and does not have a newer-model digital TV set will need to buy a box that converts the digital signal to analog. The government is providing two $40 coupons per household that can be used to buy these boxes.

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