Feb 2009 all the VHF/UHF TV channels will disappear. All "free" TV signals will move to DTV channels, which are much higher in frequency. This significantly reduces their coverage area. Unless you live within about 10 miles of the TV transmitting tower you will not be receiving free TV signals. If you live in a very large city like New York or Atlanta you will be able to continue to receive free TV. The vast majority of the country will only be able to receive what used to be free TV channels on cable or satellite systems. Nearly all the stations that are going to continue free TV service have already built new DTV transmitter and repeater stations. If you cant receive a DTV signal now you pretty much will never have free TV channels after Feb 2009.
There is a Bill working it's way around Congress that will force cable/satellite providers to allow consumers to purchase only the cable/satellite channels they want to watch. I detest 90% of the crap I had to purchase to get the 10% of the channels I like to watch. My local channels are available on my satellite system for an additional $5 a month. I don’t subscribe to them (ABC, NBC, and CBS) as there don’t worth the extra $5. The FCC is in the process of forcing satellite systems to make the local channels available as a part of the programming package you must accept. That’s just going to make me pay that extra $5 even if I did not want them or watch them. When they show up I'll just block them like CNN and MSNBC.
The landline phone services are required to keep 911 phone services available even if you're not paying for landline phone service. If your cell phone or Internet VOIP quits you can always pickup that old "wired" phone and get help.