Worries that some may be left behind during DTV transition

MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - With the clock ticking down to the transition to digital television, some people could be left behind simply because they waited too long.

If you're one of the people that gets TV over the airwaves through an antenna, starting February 17, 2009, you'll need to have a digital converter box to get all your programming. People with cable or satellite TV are already set for the transition.

A Michigan State survey of every Michigan county, found 100 percent of people knew about the switch, but only half had taken action.

The government has offered coupons for the digital converter boxes, but some people who waited too long have had those coupons expire, and congressman Fred Upton says that congress won't extend those coupons, at least not for now.

"It's a 90 day limit, we want to encourage people to get it over with," Upton said.

People who are interested in using the coupon to get a converter box do have a 90 day limit and it's use it or lose it, since each household will only get two of the coupons.

When asked why the transition was to occur on February 17, Upton said that originally they had planned to make the switch on December 31st, but he was worried that some people would wake up and not be able to get their college football and special programming New Years Day, so he picked February 17 because there are no major events coming on the day after.