Digital TV Conversion 

• Use a digital-to-analog converter box.
• Connect to a subscription service such as cable or satellite TV. 

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA], along with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a press conference to publicize the importance of the analog-to-digital conversion and what it means to families in Los Angeles. The press conference was held at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center in East Los Angeles.

 “Too many people in under-served areas did not make the transition yet … We know that one of the largest groups yet to convert to digital are Latinos, particularly young Latinos, so that’s why we are here,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.

The Mayor explained that the City of Los Angeles is partnering with local groups, the federal government and the FCC to host an event on May 28, 2009 at the Convention Center where people will exchange their coupons for new converter boxes.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke explained the details of the conversion.” If you have a television that is on cable or satellite or some sort of dish or you pay for the television you get, you don’t need to worry about this June 12th transition … if you have an older television set, let’s say it’s older than about two years old and you have an antenna on the roof of your house or you have those little antenna’s, what we call rabbit ears on top of your television set, after June 12th, you will not get a signal. You’re picture will be simply blue.   You need a converter box or you can get a new television set, any television set purchased within the last one year has a digital tuner and will be able to pick up this new digital signal,” said Secretary Locke.

Department of Commerce is providing free coupons along with the FCC ; two coupons per household, worth $40 each. You can take it to most electronic stores and exchange it for a digital converter box. Converters range from $40 - $80.