Prisons Scramble To Make Digital TV Switch

(From The Associated Press -- By Jim Davenport)

The big switch to digital TV has prison officials scrambling to keep one of the most important peacekeeping tools in prisons across the nation -- broadcast television.

When the nation's broadcasters make the switch from analog to digital signals next February 17th, televisions that aren't hooked up to cable, satellite or a converter box will be reduced to static.

While TV might seem like an undeserved luxury for inmates, prison officials and inmates say the tube does more than fill year after year of idle hours -- it provides a sense of normalcy and is a bargaining chip that encourages good behavior.

Prisons Scramble To Make Digital TV Switch