U.S. Rep. John Kline’s office has been flooded with calls with questions about the television switchover from an analog to a digital signal, a spokesman said this week.

Wednesday, Dec. 31 is the last day to order coupons for digital TV convert boxes, which TV watchers will need to avoid a blackout during the transition early in the new year.

Starting Feb. 17, television stations across the country will change the way they broadcast their signals over the air – switching from an “analog” to a “digital” signal. If you have cable TV, satellite TV or own a TV with a built-in digital tuner, you will not be affected by this change. You will continue to receive your television service with no interruption.However, if you have a television that uses “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna, you will not be able to pick up TV stations without a special converter box. You will not need to purchase a new TV, but you will need to install a digital converter box to continue receiving TV broadcasts.To defray the cost of a converter box, the government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The program provides coupons good for $40 toward the cost of an approved converter box (most converters cost $40-$70 and can be purchased at national or local electronics stores). To receive the coupons before the transition, they must be ordered before Dec. 31. There is a maximum of two coupons per household.Coupons must be ordered from the Converter Box Coupon Program: By phone, call toll-free at 888-DTV-2009 (888-388-2009). On the Internet, visit www.dtv2009.gov or click on the DTV link at http://kline.house.gov.