Press Release

Commerce Secretary Urges Georgia Residents to Act Now to Prepare for Digital TV Transition

Nation Switches From Analog to Digital TV in Six Months

ATLANTA—Marking six months until the nation switches from analog to digital, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue at an Atlanta Circuit City store to urge consumers to prepare for the digital television transition. The transition requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital after Feb. 17, 2009.

“I encourage all Georgia residents who may need a converter box to apply for coupons now and redeem them within 90 days,” Gutierrez said. “By taking action now, over-the-air consumers will receive a better TV picture and more channels and will not lose their television service when the transition takes place in just six months.”

In Georgia, 133,000 coupons have been redeemed, and in the Atlanta area, 82,000 coupons have been redeemed to purchase converter boxes. Nationwide, more than 24 million coupons have been requested and more than 8.6 million coupons have been redeemed.

“An estimated 300,000 households in Georgia will be affected by the transition from analog to digital television, and we want to make sure each of these households is fully prepared,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.

With about six months to go before the transition, consumers receiving free over-the-air television on older model sets will need to act to ensure their televisions continue to work when broadcasting goes all-digital. Viewers of over-the-air television need to look at each analog set in their home that is not connected to cable, satellite, or other pay television service and make a timely decision. They can connect their television to cable, satellite, or pay television service; they can replace it with a digital TV; or they may keep it working with a TV converter box.

For consumers choosing the converter box option, the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) TV Converter Box Coupon Program permits all households to request up to two coupons—each worth $40—toward the purchase of a certified converter box. Consumers can purchase a converter box at one of the more than 26,000 participating local, online or phone retailers. Coupon applications can take several weeks to process and mail so consumers opting to purchase a converter box should act now and should call ahead to ensure the desired converter box is available. Boxes are selling between $45 and $70.

Background:
The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital after February 17, 2009. The Act also authorizes Commerce’s NTIA to create the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, which is funded by the $19 billion airwaves auction and not tax dollars.

The transition offers consumers a clearer picture, more programming choices and will free up the airwaves for better communications among emergency first responders and new telecommunications services.

Some viewers watch programs over translators or other low-power stations which may continue broadcasting analog signals after February 17, 2009. Those viewers may wish to select a converter box that will pass through analog signals.

Consumers may apply for coupons online at www.DTV2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), via fax at 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) or by mail to P.O. BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY). Consumers will receive a list of eligible converter boxes and participating retailers with their coupons. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed, and only one coupon can be used to purchase each coupon-eligible converter box.

For more information about the Coupon Program, please visit www.DTV2009.gov and for questions about the DTV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC.