Under government-mandated action, all television stations are required to switch to digital programming by February 17, 2009, which will leave viewers without a television signal unless they purchase digital television sets, connect to cable, satellite, and alternate delivery systems or purchase a converter box.
As analog televison prepared to shut off completely, the transition was delayed.
The request came 41 days before the nation's full-powered television stations are scheduled to permanently shut off the traditional analog signals they have used for more than half a century and switch to all-digital broadcasts. Analog television sets that rely on "rabbit ear" or rooftop antennas to receive broadcasts will not work unless they are upgraded with a converter box.
The delay effected the transition from analog television frequencies to regional wireless Internet access, also known a Whitespace.
Some estimate that wireless providers could use the lower frequency TV spectrum to provide universal broadband access for every household in America for as little as $10 per month (Calabrese and Scott 2006).
Whether the analog to digital transition would delay whitespace universal broadband access is unknown at this time. Prototypes are still being tested.
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