Grandma's House

Well, it looks like the end of analog television is in sight.

A U.S. Senate panel on Thursday set an April 7, 2009, deadline for television stations to switch entirely to digital broadcasts, the latest effort to provide certainty to the transition that will free airwaves for wireless companies and emergency responders.

For those of us who don't have digital capabilities on our televisions, the end of the tunnel is dark indeed. However, they do plan to make provisions for us poor folk.

The bill also earmarks up to $3 billion to subsidize some of the cost for Americans to buy devices that would convert digital signals so existing analog television sets could still work. The cost of the boxes is expected to be about $50.

If you don't purchase a television with digital capabilities, and don't buy the converter, you can always use the television as a plant stand. It won't be good for much else.