Analog television is not as unpopular as some might think.

Feb. 17 marks the date television will convert from analog to digital.

Those who do not have cable have to buy digital converter boxes so they will still be able to receive the same TV stations they were getting before.

Associate communications professor Robert Brookey said the conversion is being made for wireless services.

“The old bandwidth that analog televisions were used on are going to be used for wireless services in order to offer a larger wireless Internet access base,” Brookey said.

George Morisette, NIU chief TV engineer, said the switch will have the television stations taking up less space.

“Analog television stations take up a lot of space through the bandwidth currently being used,” Morisette said. “But once the switch takes place, TV space will be compressed.”

Brookey said this digital switch can be a problem for some people financially.

“It can be a hassle for most who don’t have cable or satellite because they chose not to adapt to those services,” he said. “And the demographic for those who are getting converter boxes are elderly or are not as financially secure.”

Brookey noticed on the coupon program’s Web site that there is a separate application for nursing home residents.

“The separate application seems to indicate who they expect to buy the converter boxes,” he said.

To help the people who need to buy digital converter boxes, the government has been offering coupons to take $40 off the retail price.

There has been a recent problem with the coupon program offered, however.

“Coupons haven’t been working recently because money for the program has been used up,” Morisette said.

Brookey said this shows a lot of people still use analog televisions.

“It’s interesting to note that people still depend on analog television,” he said. “And it appears to be more people than what was anticipated.”

Because of this, the government is considering moving the digital switch to a later date.

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