The Low-Power Television and Translator Digital Upgrade Program (Upgrade Program) will reimburse the costs to upgrade analog low-power television broadcast stations, Class A television stations, television translator stations, and television booster stations in rural communities to digital transmission.

Status Report (10/30/2008): NTIA will be accepting comments on its implementation of the Upgrade Program through November 14, 2008. Please email written comments and suggestions to lptv@ntia.doc.gov.

On October 9, 2008, NTIA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Public Meetings in the Federal Register. NTIA held two meetings on October 24 (Washington, DC) and October 28 (Las Vegas, NV) to discuss NTIA's implementation of the program. Available from this site is the PowerPoint Presentation and an Audio Recording of the October 24 meeting.

Status Report (08/28/2008): Public Law No. 110-295, The DTV Transition Assistance Act, amended the original legislation establishing the Upgrade Program. Public Law 110-295 expanded NTIA's authority to make up to $65 million in reimbursements for the Upgrade Program from the original one year period, fiscal 2009, to the four-year period, fiscal years 2009 through 2012. The law also moved the date when NTIA could start issuing reimbursements to stations from the original date of October 1, 2010, to February 18, 2009.

The Department of Commerce's Office of General Counsel has determined that NTIA cannot perform preparatory work for the Upgrade Program, such as drafting regulations, before October 1, 2008, (the start of fiscal year 2009).

Please also see "Planning for the Digital Upgrade Program" in the New User Guide for the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program.