Digital television is a type of new broadcasting technology that allows movie-quality pictures and CD-quality sound. Current free, over-the-air television broadcast television is an "analog" system. Unlike analog, digital broadcasting technology can transmit large amounts of data into the home that can be used more flexibly than analog signals. For example, a broadcaster could use digital signals to broadcast a higher quality or several channels at the same time at current picture quality. Broadcasters are supposed to move completely digital by December 31, 2006, but that date could be extended until 85% of all homes in an area are able to watch digital television. When that occurs, analog broadcasts will end and the spectrum used for that will be available for other purposes.
