This is a Public Service Announcement brought to you by ProjectorCentral.com, HDTVSolutions.com, and the United States Department of Commerce.

On February 18, 2009, by order of a US government mandate, all full-power TV stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and switch to 100% digital broadcasting ( DTV ).

This means that old-fashioned TVs (those with analog-only tuners) will need to be connected to a digital-to-analog converter box or replaced by a new TV with a built-in digital tuner.

The Digital TV Transition, America's switch from analog to digital TV broadcasting, is nearing completion. Compared to analog broadcasts, digital broadcasts provide a sharper picture and more programming options. They will also free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as those of police, fire departments, and rescue squads).

According to statistics, around 85% of us subscribe to cable or satellite TV, as such, our service will be unaffected. However, there are roughly 15-20 million people in America, many of whom are elderly or those living on a limited income that rely on local over-the-air broadcasts received via antenna.

According to a survey by the Association of Public Television Stations, more than six in 10 analog viewers surveyed said they preferred to transition to DTV by purchasing a converter box or digital-TV set, rather than adding pay-TV services.

The government is giving out free $40 coupons to all citizens that need help to defray the cost of a digital converter box for their analog TV’s. Converter boxes connect between your antenna (either outdoor or indoor) and your TV. (You'll need a converter box for each TV.) The picture quality will be like that of a DVD, but not high-definition.

To use the coupon, consumers will have to buy from a retailer authorized to accept it. The government has a website set up that lets you apply for up to two $40 coupons per household to reduce the cost of the transition to digital TV.

You can also apply by phone by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

Apply for these coupons anytime between now and March 31, 2009. The coupons expire after 90 days.

The talk of the DTV transition will persist all through the months to come and while it may likely not affect you personally, it is important to remember that DTV (digital TV) is not the same thing as HDTV. DTV includes both standard and high-definition video formats; whereas HDTV represents the highest-resolution video formats of the DTV system.

For a true HDTV experience, regardless of whether you are a cable/satellite subscriber or you receive transmissions over-the-air using a DTV tuner, everything has to be HD-compatible, including the video material, the video cables connecting the gear, and the display itself. If you want the ultimate digital experience, you must buy a high definition TV.

For more information and how to get your coupon, go to Digital TV and the Coupon Program.