Via this link.

"On the night before Christmas, the Federal Communications Commission proposed rules that would let some full-power TV stations continue streaming a bare-bones analog signal for 30 days after the DTV transition. The "Analog Nightlight" program will allow those stations to keep their analog broadcast going "for the limited purpose of providing public safety and digital transition information," the FCC says. Meanwhile a key member of the House of Representatives is warning Congress that it may need to rush more money to the government's analog converter set top box program.

The analog nightlight rule means that couch potatoes who, as of February 17, still haven't figured out that their old analog sets can't receive digital broadcasts won't be left completely in the dark. After that day, all full-power stations must go digital. The nightlight system will permit eligible full-power license holders to continue to broadcast emergency news and information in analog using both English and Spanish. They can also transmit information about the transition and where to get help—at for roughly a month after DTV Day.

One smells the whiff of an impeding almighty screw-up. Perhaps they should play Orson Wells famous productions of HG Wells 'War of the Worlds' 1937 play on all the Radio channels on the same day...That would make for some funny CNN news coverage that evening...

We have a digital in our living room, the bedroom one isn't. I have requested that $40 coupon to go toward a converter box, it has been almost a month and it isn't here yet. Oh well, the bedroom TV has a built in DVD player, we can live on porn films or something...

They have been advertising this for at least a year so I doubt that thirty extra days will make much difference.

People who do not prepare will always complain something is not fair and demand something to make them feel better, such as something you've got by working for it. In this case, you've been paying for cable or satellite.

I like your style OBG...

Does anyone know the dimensions of the converter boxes? Just wondering how portable they are.

The product dimensions for the RCA converter are listed as 5.1 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches. It also claims to weigh 1.8 pounds, which is probably the boxed weight, including the wall wart power supply. I would guess most of them are in this general size and weight range. I have had good luck with the RCA converter but know others who haven't.

- Eric

They should probably broadcast a few days past the cut-off. But only broadcast a static screen that says "Analog TV transmission has now ended. Did you forget to buy your converter box? Here's a website http:/xxx.xxx.xxx and a phone number (xxx)-xxx-xxxx for further information."

Things change, people must too. You can't buy regular gas with lead for your car anymore. Freon-based air conditioners are history. Analog TV is next on the list.

That's news to ME - every AC I've seen use Freon or other brand refrigerant. Now if you said "Freon (tm) R-12 refrigerant based ACs are history", I'd say "yes, and Dad should have sold his 70 lbs of Freon when he could" R12 was basically replaced with R134a

R-22 is the next phase out

BTW "Freon" is a trademark of Dupont, not that everyone doesn't use it, or the term "gas" - for instance, F-22 is Dupont's refrigerant, while the generic term is R-22

It was announced today that major broadcast stations will continue to do evening programing in analog for 30 days past the change over.

...because ya know...people may not have heard about this.