Analog TV broadcasts to stop by 2009?

Well, well. Digital Television takes a few baby steps closer to becoming reality in the US as Senate Commerce Committee Chairman, Ted Stevens, said he supports a 2006 2009 hard date by which broadcasters would be required to shut off their analog signal — a date by which 85 percent of all households must be covered. The government would then auction off the analog airwaves to commercial wireless providers and set aside a fraction of the billions to be received to subsidize digital-to-analog convertors for those without coverage or those who can't afford a swank new ATSC digital boob-o-tube. After all, "watch TV 'till numb" is an unalienable right, isn't it? Anyway, a bill to set 2009 in stone will be considered on October 19 which would still have to groove its way around the US system all School-House-Rockish-like, dig.