Use an Antenna for TV? Re-Scan Your Channels Tomorrow [PHIL-OSOPHY]

Do you watch television with an antenna? The federal government is forcing about 1,000 TV stations nationwide to change their frequencies so as to make more air space or room for wireless internet carriers. The FCC actually auctioned off the frequency space.

This federally-mandated change will occur in the middle of the night at 3 a.m. on Friday, August 2. Those of you who watch television via over-the-air signal will need to rescan your television in order to store the new frequencies.

You don't have to get up in the middle of the night, though. You can do this anytime after 3 a.m. This changeover will only impact viewers who use antennas to receive their signals, not those who use cable or satellite providers.

It's also important to know channel numbers for the actual TV stations will not change because of this operation.

Here's all you do:

– Press the "Menu" button on your television's remote control.                                            – – Press "Set-Up," select "Antenna" and then "Channel Scan" or "Auto-Tune."

That's it!

If for some reason that doesn't work for you, just find the make and model of your television, and Google that information along with "how to re-tune channels."

About 24 percent of Americans rely on an antenna to watch television for free. You can put Rescan Day into any search engine for more information, or go to www.fcc.gov/rescan or call the FCC's consumer hotline at 1-888-225-5322.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @philPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.