Coupons help Minnesotans transition to digital

Digital switch
Low income people, senior citizens and people with disabilities are more at risk of losing their TV signal than other groups.
Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images

The federal government is offering coupons to Minnesotans with analog televisions to help them make the transition to digital TV.

On Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the country will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital.

People who do not have cable or satellite service will lose their reception without a special converter box. The converter boxes will allow analog televisions to broadcast a digital signal.

ACORN kicked off a campaign over the weekend to help people through this process.

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Brandon Nessen, an organizer with ACORN, said low income people, senior citizens and people with disabilities are more at risk of losing their TV signal than other groups.

"More Minnesotans are at risk of losing reception than many other states in the country. If they don't act before February they may have some static on their television," Nessen said.

Nessen said television remains a major source of news and information for many people.

People seeking more information about discount coupons are asked to call 651-642-9639, extension 115, as soon as possible.