Your TV signal is switching to "digital." For more than fifty years, TV broadcasters have sent their shows to your TV using "analog" signals. The digital conversion process will start after February 17, 2009. On this date, some full-power broadcast television stations in the United States may stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. The remaining stations may stop broadcasting analog sometime between March 14th and June 12th. June 12, 2009 is the final deadline for terminating analog broadcasts under recently passed legislation by Congress and expected to be signed by President Obama.
Why is the federal government switching to digital?
- For improved public safety for everyone. The transition to digital will help police, fire, and other public safety departments to communicate more easily with each other during emergencies.
- For you, digital TV offers better picture and sound quality, as well as more channels and programming choices.
What does this mean to you?
- If all of your TVs are hooked up to cable or satellite, you will continue to get your TV after the switch. Just check with your cable or satellite company to be sure.
- If you have a digital TV, you are ready for the switch. (If your TV is more than 10 years old it is probably not digital. If it is less than ten years old, ask the manufacturer if your TV is "analog-only"
- If you have an analog-only TV with a roof top antenna or "rabbit ears," you will not be able to watch certain TV stations after February 17, 2009 unless you get a "converter box." After June 12, 2009, all TV stations will terminate analog broadcasts.
Converter Box?
- The converter box will attach to your TV and let you go on getting free TV.
- With the converter box you can get a better picture and more channels. The antenna you have should work with the box.
- You can buy a converter box at a retail store. The boxes will cost $40 to $70.
- You can get two $40 coupons per household from the US Government to help you pay for up to two boxes. (One coupon per box only. Please note that these coupons will expire after 90 days.
For more information about the DTV transition, go to
www.dtv.gov or contact the FCC by e-mailing
dtvinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Customer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
