WASHINGTON -- You soon could be one step closer to being ready for digital television. That's because on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, Best Buy, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart will start selling digital converter boxes across the country.

That date also is when the government will begin mailing $40 coupons to help you pay for the box. So far the Commerce Department has approved more than 4 million coupons. It will probably take them several months to distribute all of them.

This work is to get people ready for the digital television switchover. On Feb. 17, 2009, television stations across the country will start broadcasting only in digital. This means if you have an analog TV and still use an antenna, you need to make changes or you'll lose your signal.

If you have cable or a satellite dish, you should be in good shape. Your signal automatically will be converted to digital.

For everyone else, you need to do one of three things in the next year:

*Pay for a new digital TV. *Sign up for cable or satellite. *Get a converter box that plugs into your TV and will keep it working after the switchover date.

Right now a box will cost you between $50 and $70. The more expensive ones will have extra features and possibly a better picture. There's also a new box that should come on the market in June that will cost around $40.

The government is still offering up to two $40 coupons a house to help pay for the converter box. You can apply online at: www.dtv2009.gov.

Also online, you can enter your zip code and find the store closest to you selling converter boxes. If a Web site isn't good for you, there's a phone number to call: 1-888-DTV-2009.