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The Digital TV Transition: What You Need to Know About DTV

The deadline for full-power television stations nationwide to begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format has been changed to June 12, 2009.

Digital television (DTV) is an innovative type of broadcasting technology that will give you crystal-clear pictures and sound, and more programming choices than ever before. While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, many local households risk losing television reception unless they take the easy steps to receive a digital signal.

DTV Resources


List of Coupon-Eligible Converter Boxes



HDTV Programming




The converter option is not necessary for everyone!

People who have television sets connected to cable, satellite, or other pay television service will not need a Digital Converter for these sets. Neither will people who have a television with a digital tuner already built in. But if you haven’t purchased a television in the last five years and is not connected to cable or satellite service, it probably does not include a digital tuner and is a good candidate for a Digital Converter.

 

arrowWhat Is The Digital TV (DTV) Transition?
Currently, many over-the-air stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital TV formats. After June 12, 2009, full –power TV stations will broadcast only in digital. The DTV transition will affect those who watch free over-the-air television (through a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears”). If you watch over-the-air programs on an analog TV, you must take action before June 12, 2009.

arrowWhy Are Broadcast Stations Switching to Digital?
Federal law requires the switch, which will free up the airwaves for police, fire, and emergency rescue communications, allow broadcasters to offer programming with better picture and sound quality and offer more programming choices, and allow for advanced wireless services for consumers.

arrowWhat Should I Do to Be Ready?

You have three choices:

choice 1 Connect your analog TV to a digital-to-analog converter box.
Digital-to-analog converter boxes are in stores and have a one-time cost of $40-$70. To help you pay for the boxes, the U.S. Government is offering two $40 coupons per household. For more information on the coupons, visit www.DTV2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). Plus, you should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with your existing antenna. Or

Here are a few important notes about the coupons:
  • The coupon will not be an actual paper coupon that clip from newspapers, it will be a plastic gift card, the kind that are used frequently now at stores like Best Buy, Home Depot, Target, etc.

  • Coupons expire within 90 days of issuance! That means that once you receive your coupons, you have roughly 90 days to use them before they will no longer be accepted. Do yourself a favor and get a conversion box within a few days of receiving a coupon.

  • There is a limited supply of coupons! There are 22.25 million coupons available to all U.S. households. Once those coupons have been used, there will be an additional 11.25 million coupons available only to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. So get on the ball and get yourself a coupon while they are still available!

  • The last date that an application will be accepted for a coupon is March 31, 2009. Of course the conversion date is June 12, 2009, so you should aim to have your coupon application in ahead of the deadline.

  • Here’s a link that provides more detailed instructions in case you run into trouble: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/setup-converterbox.htm

 

choice 2 Buy a digital television (a TV with a built-in digital tuner).
You do not need a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television. You only need a digital TV (or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box). Plus, you should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with your existing antenna. Or

choice 3 Subscribe to a paid TV service.
If your TV set receives local broadcast stations through a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV, it is already prepared for the DTV transition. Cable companies are not required to transition or switch any of their channels to digital.

However, if you have an analog TV that does not receive local broadcast stations through your paid provider, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to watch digital broadcasts on that TV.
PreviewAttachmentSize
Preparing For The DTV Transition244.22 KB
Basic Installation Guide414.09 KB
Spanish Consumer Guide620.95 KB
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box – Selected Features267.08 KB
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box482.81 KB
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box With a VCR616.44 KB
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box84.06 KB
Troubleshooting Guide for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes and Digital Televisions43.7 KB
Closed Captioning for Digital Television (DTV)73.71 KB