Story here .

I bet its closer to 30 million and they will never admit it. Free TV over the air is gone for the major part of USA. We no longer can get local channels and to have DTV setup that will give us some local programming I need to upgrade equipment and sign new $$$ contract. Guess I'll have to go back to the newspaper for local news.

You could always try & get your local news from internet....

The real scary part is if you consider that these 3 million people didn't heed the call for this, would they be just as indifferent for say (heaven forbid) a nuclear attack warning?

Probably, simply because they don't pay attention to anything that isn't DIRECTLY involved with their comfort. John C.

Free TV gone? The over air signals were converted from analog to digital and are still being broadcast for free. All thats involved if you dont have a TV with a digital tuner is a converter box. The coupons were easy to get so the converter boxes were free for me. Its kinda scary that so many people, millions!, were unprepared for this. This is something that has been in the works and in the news for over two years. Whats really exciting is whats coming for this spectrum that was freed up. Verizon for example is anticipating 75Mb wireless by 2010. COX and ATT have similar plans for wireless internet and services. Pretty cool stuff!

https://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9911450-7.html

https://www.phonemag.com/cox-commun...service-using-700mhz-spectrum-084314.php

https://gigaom.com/2008/12/10/verizon-speeds-up-lte-launch/

True, but the range is much more limited. Gone are the days of "snowy" reception in fringe areas. In my area, we have already been told that the new digital signal won't be available here. I am using cable, so I'm not affected. Those others here in this area who are 60+ miles out of DC or Richmond, VA are screwed. Five miles further out from here, the only option is satellite as cable isn't offered.

I got my coupons quite a while ago and purchased two converters just to have them. I still find it hard to believe that even with a mighty generous extension of the deadline that so many people are in the dark now.

My great uncle got the converter a long time ago, could not get it to work even on June 12, so he decided to order cable. Then somehow the converter started working again and he cancelled the cable, after which of course nothing worked. Gotta love it.

Why I say free TV is gone is like Ed pointed out the new digital signal is good for about 60 miles. (line of sight) If you are outside of that area you get nothing. The old analog signal would travel over 100 miles and if you were unfortunate enough be in a weak signal you could still get a snowy pic or boost the signal. I'm not sure how the rest of the country stands but here in Maine 95% of the state could receive the old signal now it is closer to only 15% of the state the other 85% will now have to pay cable or satellite to watch TV. Stay tuned they are intending on doing the same thing to radio signals.

We are watching very closely here. I believe our digital roll out is 2011. That is if there any local TV stations left by then. The locals are in dire straights as advertising has dried up.

Canada change over is scheduled for 31 Aug 2011.

I don't know why it was not the same time as the US conversion. Most times the FCC (US) and CRTC (CANADA) coordinate these types of changes.

If radio is next to be converted as Merrit suggests I wonder what will happen to all the AM/FM radios in existance especially older vehicles.

What I haven't seen addressed is the many thousands of portable / handheld TVs that have just become worthless.

Mom has a little 5 inch B&W in the kitchen with only a rod antenna and I have a tiny 3 inch LCD.

While we "could" string a cable to the kitchen, neither cable or a converter is an option in the back yard or out camping.

its been addressed , you replace them
they've been pushing it around here going into hurricane season you can buy a small HD tv for about 100