Welcome to the future of TV: Here's your bill

Every now and again over the past couple of years, some media source or another has run a story about the impending switch to digital TV. As of February 17, 2009, all television signals will be broadcast in digital, as opposed to analog, format.

This was mandated by Congress, which justified it by stating that digital broadcasting will clear up frequencies for public-safety communications. I'm sure that this decision had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it would ultimately require millions of Americans to buy new televisions, which would pour tons of money into the coffers of various manufacturers. I can't help but wonder how much money Sony has contributed to Congressional election funds over the last decade or so.

On the one side, this is really pretty irrelevant. If you receive your television signals through cable or satellite, then you will not be affected. In fact, this will only be an issue for people who use television antennae, a technology that is almost out the door.