What is Digital Television (DTV)?
Digital Television (DTV) is an innovative new type of broadcasting technology that will transform your television viewing experience. DTV enables TV stations to provide dramatically clearer pictures and better sound quality. DTV can also offer multiple programming choices, interactive capabilities and data services such as significantly enhanced closed captioning.

Why the switch?
Under legislation passed by Congress – the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – free local broadcast television stations are required to turn off their analog channels on February 17, 2009, and continue broadcasting exclusively in the digital format.

What are the benefits of DTV?
Digital television allows stations to offer a number of new and better services. In addition to providing dramatically better pictures and sound quality, DTV also enables TV stations to provide several channels of programming at once. This is known as “multicasting.” DTV can also be used to provide data services (such as significantly enhanced closed captioning) that are not possible with analog technology.

Who will be affected?
Consumers who receive free television signals through antennas (rabbit ears) on television sets that are equipped with analog tuners – and who do not subscribe to cable, satellite, or a telephone company service provider – will be affected by the transition. At least 19.6 million households receive only over-the-air signals in their homes, and approximately 70 million television sets are at risk of losing their signals after February 17, 2009, if owners of these sets do not make the easy transition to DTV.

How can I switch to DTV?
You can make the switch to DTV by following one of three easy steps by February 17, 2009:
1. DTV converter box: Purchase a DTV converter box that plugs into your existing analog set. A converter box will enable you to receive free television reception, and the boxes will be available for purchase in early 2008. At that time, the federal government will provide $40 coupons that you may use toward the purchase of these boxes.
2. New television set: Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner.
3. Paid service: Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company service provider to continue using your analog TV set, if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.

What is a DTV converter box?
A DTV converter box is an easy-to install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV.

When can I get a coupon for a DTV converter box?
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue coupons for DTV converter boxes in early 2008. Households will be able to apply for up to two coupons, valued at $40 each, which must be redeemed within three months of receipt. Go to www.ntia.doc.gov for more information.

Can I keep my analog TV set?
Yes. Buying a new digital television set isn’t the only option you have for navigating the DTV transition. If you wish to continue using your analog set, you must consider one of the following options to make the switch to digital television:
1. Purchase a DTV converter box, which will convert the new digital signal into the analog format for older televisions.
2. Switch to a cable, satellite or telephone company service provider to receive the new digital signal.

How do I know if I have an analog or digital television set?
To check whether your TV set can receive over-the-air digital broadcast signals, take a look at your owner’s manual or look on the set for an indication that it has a built-in Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) tuner. You can also go to the manufacturer’s Web site and check the capabilities of the set by manufacturer model number.

Is HDTV the same thing as DTV?
No. HDTV is the highest quality of DTV, but it is only one of several formats. In addition to HDTV, the most common format is Standard Definition Television (SDTV). Consumers who have high definition TV sets may receive free high definition television programming over the air using an antenna.

Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?
In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals. If you currently need a roof-top antenna to receive television, the same antenna generally will be needed to receive DTV.


CONVERTER BOX COUPONS

On Jan. 1, households can begin to take advantage of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. Its aim is to help consumers buy converters that will allow them to use analog television sets to view digital programming.

Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, households will be able to request coupons while supplies last in one of four ways:

• Apply online at www.dtv2009.gov.
  
• Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634
  
• Mail a coupon application to: P.O. BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000
  
• Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)

So far, Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart have been certified to participate in the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, along with more than 100 other retailers. There are no income guidelines for eligibility.

The government will begin distributing coupons on Feb. 17, 2008, one year before the transition takes effect.

DTV converter boxes will be available in all Best Buy stores by Feb. 18

For more information, please visit the following resources:

DTVanswers.com — An initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters, which represents more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and broadcast networks across the country.

www.dtvtransition.org - Information and resources that will inform you about the digital TV transition.

www.antennaweb.org - Consumer Electronics Association's antenna mapping program, AntennaWeb.org, will help you determine the proper outdoor antenna to use in order to receive your local television broadcast channels.