How to Prepare for the
Digital Television Transition

Key Points on DTV

On February 17, 2009, American television stations will end all analog broadcasts and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format, as mandated by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

America is switching to digital television (DTV) because it offers improved television pictures and sound, and is more efficient and more flexible than the traditional broadcast technology known as analog.

The benefits of digital broadcasting are remarkable. DTV provides crystal clear pictures and sound and offers high-definition broadcasting for consumers with HD equipment. 

DTV makes it possible for stations to broadcast multiple programs simultaneously – called multicasting – instead of broadcasting only one channel at a time. 

Despite the advantages of the move to digital, many consumers do not know that the transition to digital will be completed in 2009. This transition will directly impact the 20 million households that rely exclusively on free broadcast television in their homes.

Those most impacted by the transition will be seniors, the economically disadvantaged, minority populations and those living in rural areas. 

There are three ways people can transition to digital:

1) Switch to a cable, satellite or telephone company television service provider, in which case analog sets will continue to function;
2) Purchase a new TV set with a built-in digital tuner; or
3) Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the new digital signal into the old format for an existing analog television set.

Congress has appropriated $1.5 billion to fund a digital-to-analog converter box coupon program. The program is being administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA).

On January 1, 2008, households will be able to request up to two coupons valued at $40 each to go towards the purchase of a single converter box. Coupons will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service, and consumers will have approximately three months to redeem them.

Converter boxes will be available for purchase at consumer electronics retailers in early 2008.

• Who is affected?
19.6 million households that rely exclusively on free broadcast television
14.6 million households that subscribe to a pay TV service, but have functioning analog broadcast television sets in their homes.
Approximately 70 million television sets nationwide will be affected

Digital broadcasts are already available: Today, more than 1,600 television stations nationwide, or over 92 percent of full power stations, are already broadcasting using digital transmission. 

For more information about the DTV transition, visit the following websites

The Federal Communications Commission launched its DTV Web site last year, at www.dtv.gov. This Web site has a variety of information for policymakers and consumers.

Converter box coupons: For more information on the DTV coupon program or information on how to request a coupon beginning January 1, 2008, please visit the National Telecommunications and Information Agency Web site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html