RIP in 2009

The National Assoc. of Broadcasters is kicking off a $700 million campaign to tell Americans that TV airwaves will go entirely digital by Feb. 17, 2009.

The 2005 Government Accountability Office found that 19 percent of the US — 21 million households — still rely on an antenna for television reception as opposed to cable or satellite, according to Reuters.

Antenna users are typically poor, elderly, and/or minorities.

Owners of analog TVs with antennas won't get a signal after the cutoff date, and must instead subscribe to digital or satellite, or buy a digital TV.

The government will offer a $40 discount on a digital-analog converter.