the u.s. government took it upon itself to end forever analog television broadcasts 12:01 midnight 6/13/2009 forever why? they did give a notice!! whats new  without consulting it's public!!  however do not fret!!!  you still can control your individual viewing content on your old televisions now! rendered obsolete!! w/media still available with older electronics&media!  like dvd's, vhs/beta video cassette tapes,  ced videodiscs, ld laserdiscs, c and ku band satellite recievers/antenna's and  other formats/platforms!!   keep your old tv, vcr.s, dvd players and laserdisc players and other electronic music and media players do not throw them away!!  like they want you too do!!! there are now millions of americans with analog signal television recievers/sets" now not performing, no analog broadcast signals!! now with blank snowy screens!( no picture.)  digital converter boxes offered at government discounts w/ a coupon and are not satisfying the consumers demand for those who want a signal! new digital broadcasts!! they are not working properly etc. can not recieve a digital signal etc! etc! digital television set costs are too high! dtv satellite pay as you go is to high! and cable tv is too high! etc. and now we have a internet czar too! soon to control internet content as a national security issue!  phonelines are being clogged! for analog television add-on digital converter box questions and more!! not a typical do it yourself installation item for most americans, like the elderly etc. etc. however bare in mind digital broadcasts can be digitaly enhanced and manipulated at the source. so you can see and hear what they control!!!   many, many, many, new channels!!!! called compressed video/audio,in the vertical interval blanking bar (thats the black bar that used to flow from top to botton or vis versa on your tv set screen)if you or someone has a keen eye you can see the data stream just below the line! those are many, many, many compressed channels! the decoder boxes were pioneered in the 80,s (teletext decoders)in the u.s.a. for video/audio content and teletext imaging/messaging!!!  digital pixals!  they are going to use the old vhf television frequencies channels 2 thru 13 & uhf channels 14 thru 82(unknown at this time)/transmitters/towers in the u.s.a. etc, too!. for internal  homeland security, federal/state and local law enforcement and emergency rescue & management communications etc, etc,  purposes!! they say  there current frequenies are clogged and of poor quality!!!! and the need the analog television frequencies! with videocypher technology for scrambling so you can not recieve them with your old analog  tv set since it is a common reciever!!!  hum!!!  the government should have kept the original television broadcast analog signals too!!  for the american public!  and provided digital tv as a choice for the the american public!!  as u.s. market's demand!! in a phase-out period of years!  so  if your tired of watching the big bang radio signal echoes from outer space on your old televisions now!!(generated billions of years ago) consider all your options.  we still have the right to purchase retro video/audio media/electronics tech for now!! GO GREEN!( not all of it is in landfills) along with the new tech! if you can afford it!! i wonder what's next? government built cars and trucks!!!!  i am lucky i can still recieve uhf channels from mexico! there is a small language barrier though! i think their english is poor! (i have a closed captioned device)  p.s  i recommend watching the movie running man! the current governor of california (arnnie)stars in the movie!!! or the retro tv series the outer limits( remember the beginning do not touch that dial we control all you see and hear there's nothing wrong with your television) they are both still avail!! on vhs, laserdisc and dvd formats!   your old analog tv will play these 2 recommendations.( additional retro hardware and media is required) unless your a technocrat with latest digital electronics and media  resources!!!!! and lots of credit or $$$$$$$. they might be avail for viewing on utube(internet)(computer required) or bluray (disc)!!(bluray player or ps3 required) or try your luck and order your $40.00 off converter box coupon call NTIA 1-888-dtv-2009.(telephone required)       guide by used1goods a ebay and half.com seller and buyer