Entry bubble The DTV Transition Happens Next Month

By: Joanne | May 12, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

Is Your TV Ready for Digital? DTV.gov, 1 888 CALL FCC

Is your TV ready for digital signals? On June 12, 2009, all television stations will stop broadcasting in analog and begin transmitting in digital format. All analog televisions that rely on free, over-the-air analog signals via "rabbit ears" and rooftop antennas will stop working.

You won’t be affected if you have a television with a digital tuner built in, or subscribe to a pay TV service, like cable or satellite. If you’re not sure if you have a built in digital tuner, you can do a quick search to find out.

You will be affected if you have an analog television that doesn’t have a digital tuner built in, and you get your channels through an antenna. If you’re not sure if you have a built in digital tuner, you can do a quick search to find out.

If your TV isn’t ready yet, here’s what you need to do to prepare for the change. You have a few options:

The Consumers Union and the Federal Communications Commission have a handy guide to help you prepare your analog TV so you’ll receive the digital signals in June.

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Entry bubble Digital TV Transition

By: Sommer | January 11, 2008 | Category: General

By now, you've probably heard that on February 17, 2009, television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Last week, the Consumer Electronics Association reported that half of American households had purchased a digital TV to date. However, if you’re one of the more than 14 million households that rely on analog, over-the-air signals to watch TV you’ll need to take action before February 2009.

Let’s find out how the switch will affect you.

Do you own: Get your programming from: By Feb 17, 2009 you’ll need:
Analog TV Over-the-air or an antenna A Digital-to-Analog Converter box or to purchase a digital TV
Analog TV Cable, satellite, or other paid service You DO NOT need a converter box. Contact your service provider.
Digital or High Definition TV Over-the-air or an antenna Do nothing
Digital or High Definition TV Cable, satellite, or other paid service You DO NOT need a converter box. Contact your service provider.


If you need a converter box, the government’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program can help you save money. Here’s how it works:

  • Each household can apply for two coupons but you can only use one coupon per converter box.Digital TV
  • Apply for the coupons between January 1, 2008 and March 2009, while supplies last, in one of four ways:
    • Apply online
    • Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634. (Operators in 7 languages: English: French, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese)
    • Download a coupon application and mail it to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000
    • Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)

Fine print:

  • The converter boxes will be available in February or March 2008 through designated retailers and are expected to cost between $50 and $70 each.
  • The coupons expire after three months – don’t let your coupons expire because you can’t get more than two.
  • Only certain converter box models qualify for the coupon. The DTV2009.gov list will expand in the coming months so keep checking the website for more information.
  • There are a limited number of coupons available so order yours soon to make sure you get one.

Take a quiz to see if you’re ready for the DTV transition.

Then, take another quiz to become a DTV deputy so you’re qualified to teach your friends and family all they need to know about the transition.

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