FCC Commissioner Explains Digital TV Switch

There's another change coming this winter. The big digital television switch is about 4 months away.

But we've had many phone calls with questions.

One of the FCCCommissioners who was in town to explain the transition to senior citizens.

The days of watching TV with rabbit ear antennas are almost over. This will be a first for many senior citizens who grew up watching that way and still do today. And making the switch to digital TV is causing some confusion.

"All the holes back there and that's primarily what the instructions on the box and for some elderly as me I'm not exactly mechanically inclined it's really hard to differentiate between," said Joe Kelley, a Hamilton County resident.

So Federal Communications Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate stepped in to answer questions, demonstrate how to set up a conversion box and explain the reasons behind the switch.

One of the biggest questions people had at the program was if they'll have to get a new tv set..but the Commissioner says that's not necessary.

All you need is a digital converter which plugs into theTV or new rabbit ears.

"Because there is such a technology gap and I think a lot of us here know about the transition. So that a senior can actually hold a box and see how simple it is to actually plug in and set up," said Commissioner Tate.

Of the 50 seniors at today's outreach program only 1 had already gone out to get the converter box.

"It's really fascinating to look at all the changes we've gone through in the past few years and I think if it simplifies the process for emergency personnel broadcasting systems have going than it's great," said Kelley.

Others seniors we spoke with say they think the switch is making people go through a whole lot of trouble but they know they have to go with the flow and embrace change. Erica Green NewsChannel 9.

The converter boxes cost about $40 and the government is offering 40 dollar coupons.

For more information on the switch click: http://www.dtv.gov.