Once the switch is made from analog to digital television broadcasts, analog televisions will be unable to receive over-the-air broadcasts without having a free to view digital to analog set top converter box. The digital-to-analog converter box is an electronic device that you connect to your analog TV so that it will allow your television to receive the digital broadcasts.
Zenith ATSC Digital to Analog Converter Box (Model number 150-0148)
Coupon Program
The Department of Commerce's (NITA) National Telecommunications and Information Administration had launched a Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program on January 1, 2008 in which U.S. households will be eligible for two $40 USD coupons to be used toward purchasing two digital-to-analog converter boxes. The $40 subsidy coupon is in the form of a bank card and can only be used for a converter box purchase.
The coupons can be redeemed at various retailers toward the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box. Participating retailers include:
Walmart
Circuit City
Radio Shack
Best Buy
BSAT e-shop
DATA Action LLC
Solid Signal
Convert My TV
Compu Parts and more
Consumer Electronics Group
FreeDTVShop
The digital television transition in the United States will be completed February 17th, 2009. When the transition is complete, channels 2 through 51 will be used for digital television broadcasts and channels 52 through 69 will be reclaimed for other uses.