If you own a television set that is several years old, it's time to get ready. The day is coming when you will turn on your TV and get nothing but snow. No local channels not even your local news and weather. If you have cable or satellite, then you can call them and complain. However, if you rely solely on only an antenna or use an antenna to receive your local broadcast stations, then changes will have to be made.

Thanks to the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, television stations will cease to transmit analog signals. OK, you have a while before you have to worry about that day; February 17, 2009 to be precise. That's not too far away. Now is time to start preparing!

Why the change?

Digital has slowly grown in popularity over the years. Not just in television, but all technologies. Remember the old Motorola cellular phone, the thick black one that folded in half and displayed the dialed number in large red digits? Or the Zack Morris phone? The large grey AT&T phone that was symbolic of a 1980's businessman? They all ran on analog signals. When you made a phone call (or even connected to the internet with your modem), you were running on analog.

But, those days are fading. Many of us have cell phones and internet connections that use digital signals, now. That data package you have through your wireless carrier: Digital. That broadband or cable connection you're using to read this article: Digital. That WiFi you use at your local Starbucks: Digital.

Of course, not all of us have made the upgrade. But, we're going to be forced to, whether you like it or not.

Digital does have it's advantages. Back to television: digital provides cleaner picture, clearer sound, and actually uses less energy. If you've visited the electronics department of your local Best Buy or Wal-Mart, you've seen the difference. Watch digital TV for a while and then go back to an analog TV. You'll be in for a let down.

You don't have to go High-Def (HDTV). Standard Definition is fine (the picture isn't quite as clear but, in this writer's personal opinion, not too noticeable of a difference). But, you will have to go Digital.

Some help is on the way!

It may not be much help, but the Government is currently issuing two $40 vouchers for every applying household towards the purchase of set top Digital converter boxes*. These vouchers can be used at many walk-in and online electronic stores towards the purchase of the Digital converter*.

The cost of this transition isn't cheap. Only $990 million is available for those vouchers (or 24.75 million televisions). If those funds are used up, another $510 million will be released (12.75 million TVs). After that, you will have to certify you do not subscribe to cable or satellite service in order to receive the voucher.

What to expect?

Now that we get closer and to the February 17, 2009 cut-off date, the transition is receiving more focus from the media. Perhaps, not on the level of Y2K. But, it will be hard to forget the change will need to be made. Some in Congress, including Rep. John Dingell (Michigan Democrat), wish not to have a hard-set cut-off date.

Nevertheless, the time is coming where eventually we will all go Digital. Just like when your cellular provider told you that you could no longer use that old analog phone, you will be told to either get a new TV or the Digital converter*. If you don't, you will turn on the news and find nothing.