On February 17, 2009, Federal Law requires
that all full-power television stations stop broadcasting in the analog format and broadcast only in the digital format, known as DTV.
Why
Congress mandated the conversion to DTV for two important reasons.
First, DTV will provide higher quality picture and sound and more programming options for consumers through multiple broadcast streams.
Second, ceasing analog broadcasting will free up a wide range of frequencies so they can be used for public safety such as police, fire, and emergency rescue communications, as well as commercial uses.
Who Will be Affected
If you watch local TV stations over-the-air using a rooftop antenna
or rabbit ears and you do not have new digital TV, you will need a
converter box to continue using your old TV after February 17, 2009. To be ready, you must do one of the following:
1. Connect your analog TV to a digital converter box.
The federal government is offering up to two $40 coupons per household which are each redeemable towards the purchase of a digital converter box which retails between $40 and $70. See column 2 on how to request your coupon. You will receive redemption instructions and a list of retailers. Coupons are redeemable only towards eligible digital converter boxes. Please note that any older VCR or DVD recorder that does not have a built-in digital tuner will also need a converter box if you wish to continue using that equipment to record local digital TV stations over-the-air using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears.
2. Buy a television with a built-in digital built-in tuner.
You do not necessarily have to buy a High Definition (HD) TV - it simply must have a built-in digital tuner. If your new TV already receives all your local digital TV stations, you are fine. Refer to the FAQ in column 3 for more information.
3. Subscribe to a paid service such as satellite or cable.
If all of your TVs are hooked up to a pay service (satellite, cable, or a telephone company's TV service) and you subscribe to a channel package which includes your local digital TV stations, you should have uninterrupted service. However, if you own one or more TVs that receive
signals using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears and the TV does not have a built-in digital tuner, you will need to follow step 1 or 2 above.
Coupon Program for TV Converter Boxes
- The Federal Government is offering U.S. households up to two $40 coupons per household to help defray the cost of certified converter boxes.
- Coupons are free, but supply is limited.
- Coupons expire after 90 days and cannot be reissued.
- Coupons will be mailed to you from the Federal Government. The coupon will look and work like a plastic gift card. However, they are each redeemable only towards an eligible converter box.
- With your coupons you will also receive instructions for using the coupon, a list of coupon eligible certified converter boxes, a list of retailers where you can use the coupon, and frequently asked questions about the Program.
Applications will be accepted from January 1, 2008 until March 31, 2009.
To request your coupon, do one of the following:
Call the TV Converter Box Coupon Program at 1-888-388-2009
Fill out the request form here
Click here to print the application that you can send or fax to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
DTV Background
Digital television, or DTV, is a higher quality, more efficient way to transmit TV signals than the traditional analog TV system. DTV provides better picture and sound quality and takes up less broadcast space. DTV makes it possible for stations to provide more free programming and improves communications for public and safety service providers.
The DTV transition refers to the nation's move from analog to digital television transmission technology. Most broadcasters already have begun transmitting DTV in tandem with their traditional analog signals. At midnight on February 17, 2009, all TV broadcasters will stop broadcasting their analog signals and move to exclusively broadcasting DTV.
The transition to all-digital broadcast television came about as a congressional decision. The move will result in consumer and broadcaster benefits, as well as the generation of revenue to support other government appropriations.
The terms "digital television (DTV)" and "high definition television (HDTV)" are often used interchangeably, but they are NOT the same thing. HDTV is the highest quality form of DTV. Not all digital television is high definition. Converter boxes will convert the new digital transmissions into a form which will work with older TV sets, but digital TV signals carrying
content in high definition will be only displayed in standard definition on an older TV set.
Yes, however it may need an upgrade. If your TV is connected to a cable or satellite service and you subscribe to a channel package which includes your local digital TV stations, it should be fine. If your TV has a built-in digital tuner and is connected to a rooftop antenna, it will be fine. If, however, your TV uses a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears and does not have a built-in digital tuner, you will need to purchase a digital converter box to continue using your old TV set after February 17, 2009.
You can still receive free television over the air with an antenna just like you do now as long as your TV either has a built-in digital tuner or is connected to a converter box. The Federal Government is offering coupons (valued at $40.00 each) to reduce the cost of the converter boxes, which will range in price from $40.00 - $70.00. Call 1-888-DTV-2009 for more information on the coupon program.
Preparing for DTV
Whether or not the DTV transition will affect you depends on how you currently receive television.
If your TV is connected to a pay TV service such as satellite or cable and you subscribe to a channel package which includes your local digital TV stations, you will not be affected by the change.
If you have a new TV which has a built-in digital tuner and you receive your local TV channels using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears, you should already be able to receive DTV signals and your TV will not be affected by the change.
If your TV receives its signal over-the-air using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears and does not have a built-in digital tuner, you have three options to continue receiving TV after February 17, 2009:
1) Purchase a TV converter box. A TV converter box will cost $40.00 - $70.00. The government is offering coupons to reduce the cost of the boxes. To request coupons or learn more about the coupon program, call 1.888.DTV.2009 or visit www.dtv2009.gov
2) Connect your TV to satellite, cable, or other pay service and subscribe to a channel package which includes your local digital TV stations.
3) Replace your old analog TV with a new digital TV. A wide range of flat panel wide screen TVs are available at electronics retailers.
The best way to determine if your TV has a built-in digital tuner is to consult your owner's manual. You may also be able to find information about your TV set on the manufacturer's web site. Some TVs with digital tuners have labels containing the words "integrated digital tuner," "digital receiver," "digital tuner," "DTV," "ATSC," or "HDTV." If your set is labeled "digital monitor," "HDTV monitor," "digital ready," or "HDTV ready," this typically means it does not have a built-in digital tuner. If you have an HDTV without a built-in digital tuner, you will need to buy a digital tuner with HDMI or component outputs. The coupon eligible converter boxes output standard video only and do not have HDMI or component high definition outputs.
To ensure that you do not miss any of your favorite programs, exercise one of the three options mentioned above before February 17, 2009.
(If you choose to purchase a converter box and wish to use a government coupon, please note that coupons are available to all U.S. households on a first-come, first-served basis.)
If your TV doesn't have a built-in digital tuner, it will stop receiving television signals.
If all your TVs are hooked up to a pay service (cable, satellite or a telephone company's TV service) you should have uninterrupted television viewing come February 17, 2009 if you subscribe to a channel package which includes your local digital TV stations. However, if you own one or more analog TVs that receive a signal using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears, you will need to choose one of the above options for those TVs.
If all your TVs have built-in digital tuners and receive signals using a rooftop antenna, you will have uninterrupted television service come February 17, 2009. However, if you own one or more TVs that doesn't have a built-in digital tuner and receives signals through a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears, you will need to choose one of the above options for those TVs.
If you currently rely on a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears to receive your local TV stations, you will still need to use an antenna after the transition to digital television.
TV Converter Boxes and Discount Coupons
A digital converter box is a set-top device that connects to a traditional analog television set and enables it to receive digital broadcast signals via an antenna. Converter boxes have both video and stereo audio outputs, as well as a Channel 3 output to accommodate older TV sets.
One converter box is needed for each TV set which does not have a built-in digital tuner and relies on a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears to receive a TV signal. Please note that any older VCRs or DVD recorders that do not have a built-in digital tuner will also need a converter box if you wish to continue using that equipment to record local digital TV stations over-the-air using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears.
Converter boxes are available now and more choices should be available over the summer.
Converter boxes will be available for sale at local retailers. A list of retailers is available at www.dtv2009.gov. If you apply for and receive a coupon, you will also receive redemption instructions and a list of local retailers, Web retailers and catalogs that accept the coupons.
Coupons are redeemable only towards the purchase of eligible converter boxes.
FCC-approved converter boxes are expected to cost $40.00 - $70.00 each. This is a one-time charge with no monthly fee. To offset the cost, coupons valued at $40 each are available upon request, subject to availability and eligibility, from www.dtv2009.gov or 1-888-DTV-2009. One coupon can be applied to each box.
Every U.S. household may request up to two coupons, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They are valued at $40 each and one coupon can be applied to each converter box.
You can request coupons in these ways:
- Apply online at www.dtv2009.gov
- Call 1.888.DTV.2009 or TTY 1.877.530.2634
- Fax an application to 1.877.DTV.4ME2 (1.877.922.4698)
- Mail an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000
If you chose to mail or fax your request for a coupon, you can request an application form by calling 1.888.DTV.2009.
Antenna Information
If you recently hooked up your digital converter box and are now getting messages flashed on screen about a weak signal, your antenna is likely the cause.
If you use a rooftop antenna, you may need to have a technician perform routine maintenance.
If you are using indoor rabbit ears, these work best away from reflecting structures or low areas. To determine what antenna works best for your area, click here
Receiving Analog and Digital Brodcasts
If you recently connected your digital converter box and no longer receive analog broadcasts, it is likely you purchased a box without analog pass-through capability.
In fact, out of the seventy-some boxes on the market, only a handful are equipped with the pass-through option.
Those with the pass-through option broadcast both analog and digital signals automatically.
If you purchased a converter box without the pass-through capability, you will need to use a two-way antenna splitter to receive both analog and digital broadcasts.
Use diagram below as a guide.
Click here to see which brands come equipped with the pass-through option, denoted by *
https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm
Click to enlarge
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