Converters Signal a New Era for TVs - New York Times

A multifaceted sign of the times 

At midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, the rabbit ears and the rooftop antennas that still guide television signals into nearly 1 of every 5 American homes will be rendered useless — unless they are tethered to a new device, including two versions unveiled yesterday, that the government will spend as much as $80 a household to help families buy.

Converters Signal a New Era for TVs - New York Times