Old Enemies Working Together on DTV Transition

We're almost exactly two years from the day your analog TV as you know it will not work. On Feb. 17, 2009 the switchover from analog to digital broadcasting will occur whether we're ready for it or not, but there is a somewhat disturbing lack of educating being done to prepare consumers for the switch. The federal government has allocated $5 million for DTV consumer education, money that will be spent by trade groups representing the cable companies, broadcasters and HDTV manufacturers. At present, however, the only plans are for a website. (It should be pointed out that $5 million would buy you a pretty spiffy website.)

The government plans to offer consumers two $40 vouchers to use to purchase digital-to-analog converters that will allow their analog TVs to continue to work after the DTV transition. The trick is that consumers of course will need to know about these. That is why the FCC and Congress are leaning on the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Electronics Associations -- groups that have historically not played very nicely with each other. Will this be the issue that brings them all together?