Wakey, wakey! The switch to digital television for several coastal communities in North Carolina is less than 40 days away! I know we’ve written about it before but every little reminder helps.
Beginning at noon on Sept. 8, 2008, Wilmington-area stations WWAY (ABC), WSFX-TV (FOX), WECT (NBC),WILM-LP (CBS) and W51CW (Trinity Broadcasting) will broadcast only digital signals to their viewers in New Hanover, Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus and Pender counties. The rest of the nation will make the switch on Feb. 17, 2009. The transition will affect those who watch free television from an over-the-air signal (through a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears”). If you watch television from an over-the-air, or analog, signal, you must buy an analog-to-digital converter box, buy a digital television OR subscribe to a paid television service.
Analog-to-digital converter boxes are in stores and have a one-time cost of $40-70. To help you pay for the boxes, the U.S. government is offering two $40 coupons per household. For more information on the coupons, visit www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). Plus, you should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with your existing antenna.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has staff available to educate people about the switch. In Brunswick County, you may contact Jessica Przybyla at (202) 418-2721. Additionally, FCC staff will be at the following local events and locations to answer questions about the digital television transition and sign-up area residents for the converter box coupon.
Saturday, Aug. 2 – 5 -10 p.m.
Leland Under the Lights Classic Car Show, Wal-Mart parking lot, Leland
Monday, Aug. 4 – 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Leland WIC Center, 1492 Village Road N.E., Leland
Monday, Aug. 4 – 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Brunswick Community College, Main Campus, Bolivia
Tuesday, Aug. 5 – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Brunswick County Health Department, 25 Courthouse Drive, Bolivia
Wednesday, Aug. 6 – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Shallotte WIC Center, Sunward Office Building, 117 Holden Beach Road, Shallotte
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