For the past several months, Cheryl Buras and her husband, Denis, have navigated through bureaucratic paperwork, turning over three years of past financials to become an authorized government vendor of TV converter boxes in early 2009.

As owners of Satellite and Electronics Specialist Inc., a mom and pop electronic retailer on Gause Boulevard in Slidell, it’s a move the couple can’t afford to tune out.

Starting at midnight, Feb, 17, 2009, television stations throughout the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting, allowing fire and police departments to use some television channels for emergency communications. The remaining stations will be auctioned to companies that provide new wireless services. And in the process, electronic stores like the Burases’ could make a killing selling other equipment when basic television customers come to buy the converter boxes needed for the switch.

“I can’t imagine somebody looking at a converter box without examining other options,” Cheryl said. “If they’ve got to get up and look, they’re likely going to find something else.”

The new converter boxes, retailing for between $50 and $70, are only for analog televisions that use “rabbit ears” or roof top antennas, those who have basic television, said Bart Forbes, public affairs specialist with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

If someone wants to upgrade to digital cable, but has an analog TV, they must contact their local cable or satellite company to see if it is possible, Forbes said.

It is unclear if St. Tammany’s top cable providers — Charter, Dish Network or DirecTV — can hook up their services to an analog television without the converter box or if one will be necessary

But through all the confusion one thing’s for sure: those who qualify will receive a $40 coupon from the Department of Treasury to purchase the converter box, more than half of the box’s $50 to $70 price tag.

As of Wednesday, roughly 55,256 Louisiana households and 4.9 million nationwide have applied for the coupons, Forbes said.

But some, like Cheryl, still think the majority of Americans don’t know anything about the conversion.

“I don’t think its has hit home yet, but when it does, it’s going to be a mad rush,” Cheryl said.

And that’s when electronic retailers hope to hit big, selling cable and satellite packages to those ready to upgrade to digital television.

As of Wednesday, only eight such retailers existed in St. Tammany: Radio Shack in Mandeville; A-1 Appliance and Electronics in Covington, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and Best Buy, all locations in Covington and Slidell. Satellite and Electronics Specialist could be added to the list this week.

Nationwide, 250 retailers boasting more than 10,000 locations have been authorized to carry the converter boxes and accept the coupons.