The digital transition is underway! Prepare Now!
On Feb 17, some full-power broadcast stations in the United States may stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. The remaining stations may stop broadcasting analog anytime between Feb 17 and June 12. June 12 is the final deadline for terminating analog broadcast under legislation passed by Congress and expected to be signed by President Obama. Also, this legislation allows for the extension of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program from March 31 to July 31 2009. Find out more about the transition date change at www.dtv.gov.
Your Guide to Digital Television
If you use "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna with your analog television, you must take
some action to continue receiving television broadcasts. After February 17,
2009, all full-power television stations will switch from the analog method of
transmitting TV signals to only broadcasting a digital signal that cannot be
received by analog TV sets.
Know Your Options
1. Buy a
converter box that will plug into your analog TV.
2. Buy a TV with a digital
tuner.
3. Connect your analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay
service.
Federal Assistance
The Federal
Government is offering U.S. households up to two $40 coupons to help with the
cost of certified TV converter boxes. A converter box is a one-time
purchase that will allow you to use your analog TV after February 17, 2009.
Certified TV converter boxes are expected to cost between $40 and
$70.
The TV
Converter Box Coupon Program is administered by the U.S. Department of
Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NITA). Consumers
may request their coupons between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 through a
toll-free customer support center, a Website, fax, or through mail. There is a limited supply
of coupons, so apply today.
Coupons will
be sent to households via U.S. mail and may be redeemed at participating
retailers throughout the nation. Consumers must redeem their coupons
within 90 days.
For
more information about the TV Converter Box Coupon Program or to request
coupons by:
· Web: www.dtv2009.gov
· Phone: 888.388.2099 (888.DTV.2009)
· TTY: 877-530-2634 (English) or 877-495-1161 (Spanish)
· Mail: PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000
· Fax: 877-388-4632 or 877-DTV-4ME2
Hurricane Preparedness for the Future (Houston Chronicle)
Your old portable analog TV won't work come hurricane season 2009, or anytime after Feb. 17, 2009, for that matter. Here are some options to make sure you can still tune in over the air if the power goes out next year:
·
Buy a digital
converter box:
If you've got a nonportable analog TV, you'll need one of these anyway. Look for a model that can run on batteries.
·
Buy a battery-powered
digital portable TV:
You won't need the converter box, but the set will run you about $200.
·
Buy a TV package for your video-enabled cell phone.
Benefits of Digital Television
Digital
television is a more efficient technology, which means the transition to digital
offers benefits for television viewers and the country’s local communities
including:
·
Better picture and
sound quality:
Most
viewers will see improved clarity and color when watching their favorite news,
sports or entertainment programming.
·
Additional
channels/multicasting:
TV
stations will be able to provide several channels of programming at once. For
example, if you normally watch channel two, it will still be available to you.
But you may also get channel 2.1 that broadcasts local weather throughout the
day or channel 2.2 that provides your favorite programs at a different time of
day. These channels will be available at no additional cost.
·
Additional
services:
Additional data
services, such as enhanced closed- captioning, that are not possible in analog
will now be available.
·
Improved emergency
communications:
With the
change from analog to digital, portions of the analog TV airwaves
(known as the “spectrum”), will be made available to local emergency responders
such as local firefighters, police and 9-1-1 responders. This means improved
emergency communications capacity and safer communities.
Related Links
>
Coupon Eligible Convert Boxes
> Apply For A Coupon
> How to Install your new
Digital Television Conversion (pdf)
> How
to Shop for a Digital Television (pdf)
> FCC
Consumer Advisory: Closed Captioning for Digital Television
(DTV) (pdf)
> FCC
Consumer Advisory: Close Captioning for Digital-to-Analog Convert Boxes for
Viewing Free Over-the-Air Programming on Analog Televisions (pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
> English
> Spanish/Espanol
> Vietnamese / Tieng
Viet
> Additional
languages are available @ www.dtv2009.gov/Downloads.aspx
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