NAB: No TVs Go Black in 2009
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a Commerce Department agency responsible for advising the White House on telecommunications policy, proposed new rules on how to manage a program designed to keep Americans plugged in after the big turn off. That is, on Feb. 17, 2009 when the digital TV transition kicks into high hear and kicks analog TVs to the curb.

NTIA's plan is to subsidize DTV converter boxes to ensure Americans don't lose access to broadcast TV after the hard cut-off date. But, the agency said, the government voucher - worth $40 - will only apply to broadcast-only households. Huh?

In other words, no home that subscribes to a pay TV service via cable or satellite - that may have a second or third or how many ever additional non-digital sets - are out, well, on the curb (without TV signals). Those extra sets will not be eligible for the DTV converter box program.

NAB's hardline response: "NAB always expected that homes relying exclusively on broadcast television would be given priority by NTIA when it adopts DTV converter-box rules," association spokesman Dennis Wharton said. "However, we would hope that no broadcast-only TV sets are forced to go dark during this transition. NAB will continue working with policymakers to ensure minimal consumer disruption as the February 2009 date approaches."

They've got your back.

FYI: Congress did allocate up to $1.5 billion for the converter box program, which would pay for about 37 million converter boxes. According to the Government Accountability Office, there are 73 million "broadcast-only" TV sets currently in use in the U.S., 45 million of which are exclusively in "broadcast-only" homes. Another 28 million "broadcast only" TV sets are in homes that subscribe to cable and satellite.