I will not miss analog television

Despite failed attempts by the Obama administration to delay the Feb. 17 deadline, analog television stations will cease broadcasting in two weeks.

In 1901, an Italian inventor named Guglielmo Marconi revolutionized the way we communicate when he was the first sent Morse code messages wirelessly through radio waves.

Today these same waves deliver much more, including television, cellphone and wireless Internet services.

It is doubtful Marconi could have imagined his discovery would one day result in the lack of available radio waves. However, because of new technologies – and a generous block of frequencies the Federal Communications Corporation set aside for UHF television stations – the radio spectrum is full.

Congress realized the problem as far back as the 1970s, but it took nearly three decades to craft a solution.

The result was the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which began the digital television conversion.

The theory behind the bill was to migrate existing television stations to new digital channels and free up existing frequencies. These available frequencies, once reserved for UHF television – in the 700 mhz range – would then be free to deliver new services, such as wireless broadband.

On Feb. 17, that transition will be complete as thousands of television stations across America turn off their analog signals and give their frequencies back to the FCC.

Next week, existing analog television sets will no longer work with an antenna.

The transition will be difficult for some, but the result will be more than worth the price.

Digital television is changing the way we watch TV, providing greater channel capacity and higher quality picture and sound, without static.

Similarly, digital broadcasts provide DVD-quality surround sound, whereas analog television broadcasts in the same format as FM stereo radio.

Perhaps most significantly, DTV will allow over-the-air broadcasters to offer the same kinds of digital services that are currently offered by cable and satellite companies, such as pay-per-view.

Unless Congress approves a last minute delay, analog television will be a thing of the past this month. Speaking as one who grew up with rabbit ears on my television, I can honestly say I will not miss it.