We're 35 days away from the digital TV transition and there are more than 70 million televisions sets at risk of losing their analog signal on Feb. 17.

"How dare the government make this choice for us," Octavia Rainey, a neighborhood advocate, said.

Rainey spoke her mind about the switch to DTV at a town hall meeting sponsored by FCC. She said this change violates her right to choose.

"I thought the government was supposed to be ‘We the People' not ‘We the Government,'" Rainey said.

Rainey said not only are people without digital cable forced to buy converter boxes but now the government has run out of discount coupons. She said if nothing else, the date should be pushed back so more people can get ready.

"For the deadline to be moved, Congress would have to pass a law," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said.

Martin said changing the date would not only cost money but also cause further confusion for customers because after Feb. 17 stations have the option to make the switch, regardless.

"If we tell people the date is moved from Feb. 17 some stations will still go off anyway and then those people are going to say, ‘What happened to my TV, I thought the deadline was moved?'" Martin said.

But other people at the meeting said the change must be made and moving the date would just be delaying the inevitable.

"I think we need to leave it where it is and get everyone on board. You have to draw the line in the sand somewhere, and I say let's deal with what we have and move on," Frank Perry said.

Without the coupons from the government, those people who need to purchase a converter box could pay anywhere from $40 to about $100, and some citizens say something needs to be done.

If the date is set back Martin said it will only be delayed a few weeks to about three months to continue to help people get prepared.

Related Links

1. NBC17 DTV Information
2. DTV Blog
3. FCC