Despite the June 12th time extension for the conversion to digital TV, the Washington Post reports that some stations will shut off their analog broadcasts as scheduled on February 17th:
With millions of U.S. viewers still apparently unprepared for the nation’s switch to digital TV, nearly 500 full-power television stations across the nation are preparing to move ahead with the transition and drop traditional over-the-air broadcasts next Tuesday…
Some station officials explained that they’ve already scheduled the crews to make the switch; others said their budgets didn’t allow for continuing transmission of the analog signal.
The Low-Tech Times headquarters is already prepared for the conversion with DTV converter boxes. Some cable operators are running ads using the transition to gain subscribers. However, there is no reason to abandon free, over-the-air tv.