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National DTV TransitionCLICK HERE to listen to an episode of Antietam Cable's "Tech Talk" program discussing the 2009 DTV trnasition. Visit antPod.com for more Tech Talk episodes! What is the digital TV (DTV) transition? The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. After February 17, 2009, full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only. The government is mandating the switch to free up parts of the broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). In addition, DTV also provides the opportunity for improved picture and sound quality. What do I need to do to be ready for the end of analog TV broadcasting? Cable subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable service will not be affected by the February 17, 2009 cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting. If you have one or more televisions that receive over-the-air television programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to continue to watch over-the-air programming after February 17, 2009. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set. To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. You will be able to request the coupons beginning in January of 2008. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit the NTIA’s website at www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). Do I have to wait until after February 17, 2009 to watch DTV? No, digital television is available now. You can subscribe to Antietam Digital Cable and watch digital TV over your existing set. If I have an older analog television, will I have to throw it away after February 17, 2009? No. Analog sets will continue to work as before if connected to cable TV. Also, analog sets will continue to work with gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products that you use now. You do not need to get rid of your existing analog TV. For people who don’t have cable, a digital-to-analog converter box will allow them to continue using their existing analog TV to watch over-the-air digital broadcasts. If I want a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition? No. It is important to understand that the DTV transition is a transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. It is not a transition from analog broadcasting to High Definition broadcasting. Digital broadcasting allows for High Definition broadcasts, but High Definition is not required, and you do not need to buy a HDTV to watch digital TV. A Standard Definition DTV (which is simply a TV with an internal digital tuner), or a digital-to-analog converter box hooked to an analog TV, is all that is required to continue watching over-the-air broadcast television. How can I be sure that I am buying a digital TV (DTV)? By law, beginning March 1, 2007, all television reception devices (including TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.) imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce must contain a digital tuner. Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory, but must prominently display on or near the analog-only device a Consumer Alert label with this advisory: Consumer Alert This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: www.dtv.gov. Therefore, all television equipment being sold should contain a digital tuner, or should be identified at the point-of-sale as not having one. How do I know if I already have a digital TV (DTV)? Many DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (High Definition television). If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. (Remember, you do not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view over-the-air digital. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view High Definition programming in full HD quality.) You should also check the manual or any other materials that came with your television equipment in order to determine whether it contains a digital tuner. If your television set is labeled as “analog” or “NTSC,” and is NOT labeled as containing a digital tuner, it contains an analog tuner only. If you cannot determine whether your television set or other television equipment contains a digital tuner, you are advised to check your equipment for the manufacturer name and model number, and then contact your consumer electronics retailer, or the manufacturer, to determine whether it contains a digital tuner. This information also may be available online through the manufacturer’s website. What is the Converter Box Coupon Program? To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. Beginning in January of 2008, the NTIA has begun accepting applications for coupons. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. Manufacturers estimate that digital-to-analog converter boxes will sell from $40 to $70 each. This is a one-time cost. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). What digital to analog converter box is ‘coupon’ eligible? The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is maintaining a list of eligible boxes at https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm. Can I hook up more than one TV and video recorder to a single digital-to-analog converter box? You will need one digital-to-analog converter box for each TV set or other device (such as a VCR) that only has an analog tuner. The digital-to-analog converter box basically replaces the analog tuner in one piece of equipment. Will digital-to-analog converter boxes (used to convert over-the-air digital TV broadcasts for viewing on analog sets) also convert digital closed captioning? Yes. FCC rules require that digital-to-analog converter boxes be able to convert over-the-air digital closed captioning for display on analog TV sets. See http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvcaptions.html. I have an old antenna that attaches to my TV with two wires. Will I be able to use a converter box with this antenna? Yes, but you may need to get an antenna adapter (also called a “balun”) to which you will connect your antenna on one end, and then connect the balun to your converter box. You will then need a second adapter to connect to the converter box with a length of antenna wire to connect to your TV. |
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