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A simple guide to the Digital Television Transition A simple guide to the Digital Television Transition  [PDF Version] [En Español]
  • What Is Happening?
  • Why Is The Government Switching to Digital?
  • What Does This Mean To You?
  • Converter Box?
DTV one pager One Pager  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Amharic] [Arabic] [Bosnian] [Cambodian] [Chinese] [Creole] [Farsi] [French] [Greek] [Hmong] [Ilokano] [Italian] [Japanese] [Korean] [Kurdish] [Laotian] [Navajo] [Polish] [Portuguese] [Romanian] [Russian] [Samoan] [Somali] [Sudanese] [Tagalog] [Taiwanese] [Tongan] [Vietnamese] [Yupik] [Large Print]
A one pager on the basics of the Digital Transition;
  • What is It?
  • Why are We Switching?
  • What should I Do To Be Ready?
Troubleshooting Guide for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes and Digital Televisions Troubleshooting Guide for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes and Digital Televisions  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Amharic] [Arabic] [Bosnian] [Cambodian] [Chinese] [Creole] [Farsi] [French] [Greek] [Hmong] [Italian] [Japanese] [Korean] [Kurdish] [Laotian] [Navajo] [Polish] [Portuguese] [Romanian] [Russian] [Somali] [Sudanese] [Tagalog] [Vietnamese] [Yupik]
FCC and EPA Joint Fact Sheet on DTV and Recycling FCC and EPA Joint Fact Sheet on DTV and Recycling  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Amharic] [Arabic] [Bosnian] [Cambodian] [Chinese] [Creole] [Farsi] [French] [Hmong] [Japanese] [Korean] [Kurdish] [Laotian] [Navajo] [Polish] [Portuguese] [Russian] [Samoan] [Somali] [Tagalog] [Tongan] [Vietnamese] [Yupik]
FTC Consumer Alert - Television is Going Digital: Get the Picture FTC Consumer Alert - Television is Going Digital: Get the Picture  [PDF Version]
The DTV Transition and Over-the-Air Viewers Along U.S. Borders, PDF Version The DTV Transition and Over-the-Air Viewers Along U.S. Borders
[PDF Version] [En Español]
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box – Selected Features Digital-to-Analog Converter Box – Selected Features  [PDF Version] [En Español]
The Federal Communications Commission has prepared this Consumer Advisory on selected features in 41 digital-to-analog converter boxes that it has purchased.
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (Basic) Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (Basic)  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Amharic] [Arabic] [Bosnian] [Cambodian] [Chinese] [Creole] [Farsi] [French] [Greek] [Hmong] [Ilokano] [Italian] [Japanese] [Korean] [Kurdish] [Laotian] [Navajo] [Polish] [Portuguese] [Romanian] [Russian] [Samoan] [Somali] [Sudanese] [Tagalog] [Thai] [Tongan] [Vietnamese] [Yupik]
This guide will help you prepare so that when you purchase a converter box you will know what to expect and whether you may need help setting it up.
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (Basic with twin-lead antenna wire) Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (Basic with twin-lead antenna wire)  [PDF Version]  [En Español]
This Fact Sheet describes installation of a digital-to-analog-converter box if your TV set has twin-lead terminals for attaching the antenna, instead of a coaxial connector plug or port.
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box With a VCR, html format Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box With a VCR  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Amharic] [Arabic] [Bosnian] [Cambodian] [Chinese] [Creole] [Farsi] [French] [Hmong] [Japanese] [Korean] [Kurdish] [Laotian] [Navajo] [Polish] [Portuguese] [Russian] [Somali] [Samoan] [Tagalog] [Taiwanese] [Tongan] [Vietnamese]
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (For Viewing Analog and Digital Broadcasts), html format Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (For Viewing Analog and Digital Broadcasts)  [PDF Version] [En Español]
Antennas and Digital Television Antennas and Digital Television  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Amharic] [Arabic] [Bosnian] [Cambodian] [Chinese] [Creole] [Farsi] [French] [Hmong] [Ilokano] [Japanese] [Korean] [Kurdish] [Laotian] [Navajo] [Polish] [Portuguese] [Russian] [Samoan] [Somali] [Tagalog] [Thai] [Tongan] [Vietnamese] [Yupik]
This Fact Sheet provides information on antennas and on what is needed for good quality reception of digital broadcasts.
Video Descriptions and the Digital Television Transition Video Descriptions and the Digital Television Transition  [PDF Version] [En Español]
If you currently use available video descriptions to access television programming, you should read this advisory.
 
DTV Transition Does Not Require Cable Systems to Switch to Digital [PDF Version] [En Español]
Some cable companies have decided to switch to digital service.  If you are a cable subscriber, you should be aware.
Satellite TV (DBS) Subscribers and the DTV Transition Satellite TV (DBS) Subscribers and the DTV Transition  [PDF Version] [En Español]
If you subscribe to satellite TV (also known as “Direct Broadcast Satellite” or “DBS”) and your TVs receive local television stations through your satellite dish, these TVs are already prepared for the DTV transition. Read this advisory for more information.
DTV: What Every Consumer Should Know DTV: What Every Consumer Should Know [En Español] [Large Print]
This is our DTV primer booklet. It includes the background of the digital transition, everything you should know before shopping for a digital TV, all the different types and phrases used, and a complete DTV glossary.
DTV Fact Sheet DTV Fact Sheet  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Large Print]
On February 17, 2009, federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format. This factsheet explains what these requirements will mean for you and your television viewing.
Buying the Right TV: What Every Consumer Should Know Buying the Right TV: What Every Consumer Should Know  [PDF Version]  [En Español] [Large Print]
When buying television sets and other TV equipment such as DVD players, consumers should know whether or not the equipment includes a digital tuner.
Closed Captioning for Digital Television (DTV) Closed Captioning for Digital Television (DTV) [PDF Version] [En Español] [Large Print]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is concerned that consumers may experience difficulty in receiving and/or viewing closed captioning on some digital television (DTV) programming, including high definition television (HDTV), provided by a programming distributor such as a cable company or a satellite television provider.
Closed Captioning and Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes for Viewing Free Over-the-Air Programming on Analog Televisions Closed Captioning and Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes for Viewing Free Over-the-Air Programming on Analog Televisions  [PDF Version] [En Español] [Large Print]
Closed Captioning and Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes for Viewing Free Over-the-Air Programming on Analog Televisions.
The DTV Transition and LPTV/Class A/Translator Stations The DTV Transition and LPTV/Class A/Translator Stations  [PDF Version]  [En Español] [Large Print]
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. There is currently no statutory deadline for these stations to convert to digital broadcasting.
Compatibility of Cable TV and Digital TV Receivers - "Plug-and-Play" Compatibility of Cable TV and Digital TV Receivers - "Plug-and-Play"  [En Español]
The FCC’s “plug-and-play” rules will ensure that most cable systems are compatible with digital television (DTV) receivers and related consumer electronics equipment.
Advisory on Mandatory Labeling of Consumer Electronics Products with Only Analog Broadcast TV Tuners. Advisory on Mandatory Labeling of Consumer Electronics Products with Only Analog Broadcast TV Tuners.
Word | Acrobat | En Español
Effective May 25, 2007, all retailers must prominently label any equipment they are selling with an analog tuner. This is a joint Advisory with the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition. (CERC).
Advisory on Mandatory Labeling of Analog Tuners. Advisory on Mandatory Labeling of Analog Tuners.
Word | Acrobat | En Español
Effective May 25, 2007, all retailers must prominently label any equipment they are selling with an analog tuner. This is a joint advisory with The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA).
Advisory on the Transition from Analog to Digital Television Broadcasts Advisory on the Transition from Analog to Digital Television Broadcasts.
Acrobat
The digital television (DTV) transition refers to the switch from analog to digital television broadcasts. On February 17, 2009, federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format.

Last reviewed/updated on 01/16/09


For comments or questions pertaining to the DTV transition, please e-mail DTVinfo@fcc.gov
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