In a little less than a year, a dramatic change is coming to my television and yours.
There hasn’t been a major technological change in television since the 1940's, but next year television catches up with the digital age.
On February 17, 2009, Congress has mandated that television stations have to switch from analog to digital.
If you're a cable or satellite subscriber, your television will barely notice the change, except perhaps you'll see a better, clearer picture.
But if your television uses rabbit ears or rooftop antennas to pick up over-the-air- broadcast, chances are it simply won't work. No picture, period.
This is especially important information for my community and other communities of color, those who speak another language besides English, the elderly, those living on fixed incomes and people with disabilities.
We will feel the impact of this change more than the general population because we make up a significant part of the 21 million households that receive over-the-air television.
Access to communications in the 21st century is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
And we don't intend to get left behind.
That is why the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights is working at the local and national level to launch a year-long campaign to educate these communities about the 2009 digital television transition.
The transition is even easy. You don't even have to buy a new television, you can just get a converter box that will help your television get the digital signal.
Congress is even offering $40 coupons to help toward the purchase of the converter boxes. The converter boxes are expected to cost between $40 and $70. Every household can apply for up to two of the free $40 coupons toward the purchase of converter boxes.
Coupons are free, but with only 33 million available, supply is limited.
Yet recent polls have found that millions of Americans who rely on over-the-air television are unaware of, or confused by, the digital shift and the coupon program.
We just have to make sure that the most vulnerable part of the television audience is aware of and guaranteed the opportunity to join the great American switch to digital.