Television stations will be required by federal law to stop broadcasting programming in analog format on Feb. 17, 2009 and start broadcasting in digital transmission only.

Individuals who subscribe to cable or satellite television will not need a digital-to-analog converter box. Televisions connected to a paid service will continue to receive local broadcast programming.

Individuals who receive over-the-air programming or use a broadcast antenna, either "rabbit ears" on the set or a rooftop antenna, will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue watching broadcast television on that set after the transitiondate.T he converter boxes cost approximately $40 to $70 and are available for purchase in local stores.

To help defray the cost of the converter boxes, each household can request from the federal government up to two coupons worth $40 each for use toward the purchase of eligible boxes.

For more information on the coupon program, call (888) 3882009 (voice) or (877) 5302634 (TTY) or visit www.dtv2009.gov.

For more about the digital transition, call the Federal Communications Commission at (888) 2255322 (voice) or (888) 835-5322 (TTY) or visit www.dtv.gov.