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Congress has mandated that over-the-air analog broadcast television signals be converted to digital signals by mid-February.

People using digital television sets or who subscribe to pay television services won't be affected, but those who still have older televisions with no paid service will need to connect a converter box to each affected television in order to keep watching TV. Many boxes retail in the $40-to-$70 range. The government began issuing $40 coupons earlier this year to help offset the cost to consumers.

Here's a quick update on the preparations for changing over to all-digital broadcasts and what you can do to keep your TV signal if you're in danger of losing it.

11:59 p.m. Feb. 17, 2009: National digital television (DTV) transition deadline.

181: Days until the national deadline.

93: Percentage of full-power television stations broadcasting in digital today.

70 million: Number of TV sets at risk of losing their signals.

19.6 million: Number of households that receive only over-the-air signals.

14.9 million: Number of households with secondary over-the-air TV sets in their bedrooms or kitchens.

Converter-box statistics as of last Wednesday:

12.5 million households approved for coupons.

23.6 million coupons requested.

22.2 million coupons mailed.

105,134 average daily orders for coupons in the preceding week.

2,458 participating retailers, in 28,097 locations.

142 converter-box models approved for the program.

• Buy a DTV converter box.

• Buy a TV with a built-in digital tuner.

• Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay-TV service.

• For a detailed list of eligible boxes, go online to www. ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm.

• For a complete list of retailers or to search for a local retailer, got to www.DTV2009.gov/ VendorSearch.aspx.

• To apply for a coupon, call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) or log on to www. dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon. aspx. All consumers are eligible for coupons, but supplies are limited. There are 22.5 million coupons available to everyone, with no questions asked. Another 11.25 million coupons are available only to households that receive their TV broadcasts solely over the air using an antenna. Households with cable, satellite or other pay-TV services are not eligible for this second batch of coupons. Consumers can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the funds are exhausted. Each household can request up to two coupons, and each can be applied to only one converter box.

Source: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, National Association of Broadcasters.