Hold on to your old CRT TVs; HD only by 2007?

[Jeffhs]

Was watching the early morning news on TV today and saw an interesting report on NBC's Early Today show. It was from CNBC Europe and stated that, in paraphrase, the CRT-based television receiver (NTSC, 4:3 aspect ratio) is on its way out; production of standard televisions with CRTs will eventually end, leaving consumers no choice but to buy plasma or LCD flat panel sets if they want to replace their old reliable CRT-based model. The report did not specify exactly when production of standard TVs would cease; however, production of standard-definition TV sets (SDTVs) would probably continue for those of us who, like myself, cannot afford a huge flat-panel TV at this time. I suppose I could get a small FP set with a 15-inch screen (my apartment is too small for a 54-inch rear-projection or plasma/LCD set anyhow) and probably will, if push comes to shove. However, I don't see how my present 19" CRT sets, a Zenith Sentry 2 in my bedroom and my RCA CTC185 in the living room, will become obsolete any time soon as long as I use a digital cable box ahead of the set, as I have been with the RCA for several years now. I am fully aware that I will not be viewing HD programming as HD on a 4:3 analog set, even with a digital cable box, but as long as I can still get the programming my cable operator provides (Time Warner Cable replaced Comcast in my area last week), I won't be concerned about viewing a 16:9 picture on a 4:3 analog set (with the blank spaces above and below the picture, as many shows now telecast in HD already appear on analog TVs, so I am more or less used to it by now).

A question: I was browsing ebay the other evening and saw a listing for a used flat-panel TV. The caption below the picture of the set (in the ebay list view) stated that, again in paraphrase, the FCC is mandating HDTV by 2007, so grab this set now! I thought the digital changeover was supposed to be in early 2009. Did the FCC move up the date again?
I realize that all new TVs will be required to have ATSC tuners by next year, but I was not aware that analog TV transmission would cease by 2007 as well. I read in the paper today, and saw on the noon news on TV, that the FCC is already auctioning off RF spectrum space ("the airwaves" to most people outside our hobby, including TV newscasters). I wonder if some of these frequencies might not be certain television channels; has the FCC begun auctioning off the UHF band, for example, those channels above channel 50 and ending at 69? If so, I think we may be seeing the beginning of the end for analog television. FM radio may well be next, as many major cities (including Cleveland) have at least one "high definition" FM station; but that's a topic for one of the audio forums.