The Digital to Analog Television Transition

 

Background

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 mandates the transition from over-the-air analog television broadcasts to digital over-the-air television broadcasts at midnight on February 18, 2009. This will not directly impact people who have cable or satellite television. However households which receive analog television broadcasts over-the-air will no longer receive a television signal after February 17, 2009 unless they have a digital-to-analog converter box.

The government is subsidizing the cost of these converter boxes with a $40 coupon, bringing the out-of-pocket costs of a converter box down to approximately $10-$30.

Who Will Need a Converter Box?

It is estimated that 34.3 million households in the United States rely solely or partially on over-the-air analog broadcasts to watch TV. These households have one or more television sets that are not digital-ready, or are not connected to either cable or satellite television service.  Converter box required.

Consumers who currently receive over-the-air digital television or have cable or satellite TV on all televisions will not require a converter box. No converter box necessary.

Federal Converter Box Coupon Program

To request a coupon for a digital-to-analog converter box, please call the government conversion program at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

If you have questions about the program or the transition, you can visit the government website www.DTV2009.gov, or visit www.dtvanswers.com, the official Web site of the National Association of Broadcasters’ digital television (DTV) transition campaign.

Click here for a comprehensive DTV Q & A GuideFor Spanish click here.

Digital Television Transition in Southern Arizona


The DTV Transition poses a unique problem for families close to the U.S.-Mexico border. While residents will continue to receive multiple channels over the air of Spanish-language analog television originating from Mexico, they will no longer receive important public safety information from the U.S. without a DTV converter box.


That’s why I am cosponsoring H.R. 5435, the DTV Border Fix Act. This legislation will allow broadcasters within 50 miles of the U.S. Border to continue analog broadcasts for 5 years after the DTV transition. By doing so, we can ensure that residents along the U.S.-Mexico Border continue to receive emergency information and news over the U.S. television broadcast system and ensure that the transition is completed smoothly.