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The digital television (DTV) transition refers to the
switch from analog to digital broadcast television. Congress has mandated
that, by June 12, 2009, full-power television stations will stop
broadcasting in analog, and will broadcast in digital only. While the
majority of consumers in the U.S. can receive the programming of full-power
over-the-air stations, there are three other categories of broadcast TV
stations – “low-power,” “Class A,” and “translator” stations. Although these
types of stations also must eventually switch to digital broadcasting, there
is currently no deadline for them to turn off their analog signals.
The FCC established low-power television (LPTV) service
in 1982 to provide opportunities for locally-oriented television service in
small communities. These communities may be in rural areas or may be
individual communities within larger urban areas. More than 2,100 licensed
LPTV stations are in operation. LPTV programming can include
satellite-delivered programming services, syndicated programs, movies, and a
wide range of locally-produced programs.
Class A TV stations are former LPTV stations that have
certain interference protection rights not available to LPTV stations. These
stations are technically similar to LPTV stations, but unlike LPTV stations
must air at least three hours of locally-produced programming each week and
comply with most of the non-technical regulations applicable to full-power
stations. Approximately 600 licensed Class A TV stations are in operation.
A TV translator station rebroadcasts the programs of a
full-power TV broadcast station. TV translator stations typically serve
communities that cannot receive the signals of free over-the-air TV stations
because they are too far away from a full-power TV station or because of
geography (such as uneven terrain or mountains). Many of the 4,700 licensed
TV translator stations operate in mountainous or more remote areas of the
country.
There are several ways to determine whether the broadcast
stations you view over-the-air (with a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears"
attached to your TV) are LPTV, Class A, or TV translator stations. Class A
stations are required to visually or aurally identify their stations with
their community of license and call sign (that includes the suffix “-CA” for
Class A) at sign on, sign off, and on an hourly basis. LPTV stations also
must regularly identify their station call sign. When locally originating
programming, they must visually or aurally identify their call sign and
community of license at sign on, sign off, and hourly. LPTV call signs may
consist of four letters followed by the suffix “-LP” (for low power) or,
alternatively, five characters beginning with the letters K or W followed by
two numbers (their operating channel) and two additional letters.
TV translator stations rebroadcast the programming of a
full-power station, but on a different channel. Your television will
indicate the channel on which you are receiving the programming. If the
station you are watching with an antenna (and not through a paid provider
such as cable or satellite) identifies itself with a different channel than
the one indicated on your TV, you are likely receiving the programming from
a TV translator station. If you are unsure of the status of a particular
station, contact that station. Further, LPTV, Class A, and TV translator
stations may regularly broadcast information as to their status, and may
include information regarding the DTV transition.
While the June 12, 2009 deadline for ending analog
broadcasts does not apply to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations,
the FCC will require these stations to convert to digital broadcasting
sometime thereafter. More than 2,100 of these stations have been authorized
to construct digital facilities and some are broadcasting in digital
already. The FCC is currently considering the remaining issues involved with
the low-power digital transition and will make decisions regarding these
stations in the future.
If you have an analog-only television that receives free
over-the-air programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the
TV), you will need to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box in order to
watch digital broadcast television. Each U.S. household is eligible to
receive two $40 coupons to be used toward the purchase of two
digital-to-analog converter boxes. The National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) is administering the coupon program. More
information can be found at www.dtv2009.gov,
or by calling 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
Because the $40 NTIA coupons program is offered for a
limited time, you should consider applying for the coupons and purchasing
coupon-eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes now, even if you only
watch low power, Class A, and TV translator stations. As noted, these types
of stations will have to switch to all-digital broadcasting in the future,
and in order to take advantage of the government-sponsored coupon program,
you will have to request your coupons now. (Please note that these coupons
will expire 90 days after mailing).
If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box to
watch digital broadcasts on an analog TV and also wish to continue watching
analog LPTV, Class A, or TV translator stations, you should purchase a
converter box with “analog pass-through” capability, which allows analog
broadcast signals to pass through the converter box to be tuned by your
analog TV. NTIA’s coupon program has certified converter box models that
have analog pass-through capability. A current list of coupon-eligible
converter boxes is available at
www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/cecb_list.html.
The converter box models that have analog pass-through capability are noted
on the list with an asterisk next to them. In addition, NTIA will mail a
list of current coupon-eligible converter boxes, noting with an asterisk
those that have analog pass-through capability, to each household that
receives converter box coupons. You can also check with your retailer to
determine whether the converter box you are purchasing has analog
pass-through capability.
If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box without
analog pass-through capability, you can use an “A-B switch” and/or a “signal
splitter” and some extra cable to route the analog signals around the
converter box in order to watch analog channels. A set-up guide is available
at
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterbox-analog-digital.html. Or, you
can disconnect the antenna from the converter box and re-connect it directly
to the TV to watch analog broadcasts. Check with the manufacturer of the
digital-to-analog converter box and your retailer if you need additional
instructions on how to connect the box to view broadcasts from both analog
and digital stations.
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
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.
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Federal Communications Commission · Consumer
& Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. ·
Washington, DC 20554 |
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1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) ·
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) · Fax: 1-866-418-0232 · www.fcc.gov/cgb/
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Federal Communications Commission
