Friday, June 12, 2009

Ready or Not . . .

Today at noon television stations in Connecticut and around the country began the historic switch from analog to digital transmission, as required by federal law. Cable and satellite customers won’t be inconvenienced in any way, but those who still depend on a roof antenna or the rabbit-eared set to receive a signal will no longer have TV service unless they purchase a converter box.

Savvy consumers may have already purchased the latest HD TVs to get the optimum results but the FCC predicts that millions of people are not yet prepared, and hordes of viewers are probably panicked and clamoring right about now. (Actually, it would be a good idea to check on some of the older folks in your neighborhood -they might have just lost their best friend.)

It’s always hard to make a change but things will settle down eventually and we’ll all be enjoying wireless broadband, TV on our cell phones and of course the great new TV picture quality that “looks like real life.” And what about real life? It’s as clear as the nose on Big Bird’s never-aging face that what was once deemed newfangled technology is the dawn of a new era. Let’s all make sure we’re prepared for it. For more information, visit dtv.gov.