The U.S. Government has mandated that all television broadcasts become digital by Feb. 17, 2009. How will this change affect you? Will you use the two $40 coupons the Government is planning on issuing for the purchase of digital adapters? Most importantly, come Feb. 17, will you be “digital,” have an adapter or without reception?
Asked on May 16, 2008
“It won’t affect me at all, I live in the woods and I don’t have electricity, so I don’t have television.”
— Kenneth Winters, General laborer, Fairbanks
“I’ll probably have to (change) because they’re going to knock out regular television and all my favorite shows. I don’t like cable, it’s too expensive. If I have to I’ll use the coupons. I might have to stick with DVDs.”
— Terry Collins, Laborer, Fairbanks
“Basically it won’t effect me. I’ve already got a digital signal through satellite. if I didn’t have the satellite TV, I’d pursue the coupons and use them.”
— Stacey Skrivanek, Equipment operator, Healy
“It has agitated me. We’ve already gotten rid of two televisions in anticipation of it. It will probably cut down on how much TV we watch. The programming is so bad, I don’t need more of it. We will have digital TVs.”
— Lynda Herd, Retired, Redmond, Wash.
“It would affect me because I’d have to get a new TV. Out in the villages it might be nice for teachers to use for education experiences. The coupon would be a plus. I’ll probably use an adapter.”
— Mark Peters, Electrician, Arctic Village
“I don’t really watch TV. In a way I think it will actually help society. I think we watch too much TV as it is. As long as its free, then it must be positive.”
— Bradley Hodges, Visitor information specialist, Fairbanks
“Like everything the government does it’s going to cost me more money. Of course George Bush already has a digital TV. I voted in Florida but it doesn’t count there. I think this is a really good time to stop watching television. I’ll be TV free, I’m going green.”
— John Stewart, Tourism, Fairbanks