If you turned on your TV today and have nothing but static, it could be that the broadcast outlets in your area aren’t waiting until June to make the digital transition.
According to Variety, about a quarter of the stations in the United States switched off their analog signals last night at 11:59 p.m. and went to full digital signals. Earlier this month, Congress voted to extend the mandatory date for all stations to go digital until June 12. The legislation came after complaints that many of those who still recieved an analog signal from an attenae had not purchased their coverter box to allow them to view digital signals. The legislation was also in response to complaints that the fund used to help Americans off-set the cost of the conversion had run out of money with several million Americans still needed and requesting assistance.
“It’s kind of an irritation, but I understand that everyone will have a much better picture. As far as I was concerned, they could have left things the way they were,” said Dorothy Delegard, 67, of Minneapolis, who bought a converter box because a friend gave her a coupon that expires Tuesday.
The good news is if you have cable or satellite service, you should still be receiving all the channels you did yesterday.
Originally, all U.S. stations were to cut their analog signals on Tuesday, but at the urging of the Obama administration, Congress voted this month to give broadcasters more time.
Most stations, particularly those in big cities, accepted the offer to wait until June 12. Others wanted to stick to Feb. 17, a date they had spent much airtime advertising. Many of them had also booked engineering work on their antennas for that day.
The Federal Communications Commission, which wanted to ensure that no one would be entirely deprived of analog signals, cleared 421 stations to go all-digital this week. Another 220 stations have already made the switch, including all stations in Hawaii.
The most populous places where many or all major-network stations are cutting analog this week include San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif.; La Crosse and Madison, Wis.; Rockford and Peoria, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga.; Scranton, Pa.; Rhode Island and Vermont.
In most cases, one station in each of those markets will continue sending analog signals until June or will offer a so-called “analog nightlight” for a few months, with limited local news and emergency broadcasts, as well as information about the digital TV transition.
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