Countdown to the Digital Transition February 17, 2009 How You Can Prepare Now!

On February 17, 2009 your television signal will change, giving you a better picture, improved sound quality, and more channels.

If you watch free television through a rooftop antennae or "rabbit ear" style that sits on top of your TV you will need to read on. If you do not prepare, you will not be able to watch most free, over-the-air TV stations after that date.

California Public Utilities Commissioner Rachel Chong gives you tips on how, what, when and why this is happening.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE CHANGE TO DIGITAL TELEVISION

Consumer Advisory Written by
Commissioner Rachelle Chong
California Public Utilities Commission

On February 17, 2009, your television signal will change, giving you a better picture, improved sound quality, and more channels. This upcoming change is called the digital television (DTV) transition. This transition is taking place because of a new law that requires broadcasters to the switch from analog to digital broadcast to free up a part of the airwaves for emergency rescue communications and new wireless broadband services.

Keep reading if you watch free over-the-air television through a rooftop antennae or rabbit ear style antennas that sit on the top of your TV set. If you do not prepare, you will not be able to watch most free, over-the-air TV stations after February 17, 2009. The California Public Utilities Commission wants to help you be prepared for the transition.

How should you prepare?

If you watch television on a non-digital analogy television and rely on a rooftop antennae or rabbit ear antennas, you have three choices:

(1) Connect your older analog TV to a digital-to-analog converter box. The good news is that you do not have to buy a new digital TV to watch digital channels. If you have an analog TV that uses rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna, apply for a free converter box coupon from the federal government, buy a converter box, and install it following the instructions in the box. Most TV stations are already broadcasting digitally, so you can use the converter box as soon as you get one to receive more channels and better picture quality.

The converter box will let you keep watching free TV using your analog TV. The box is a one-time cost and the lowest cost option. The converter boxes are sold in retail stores and cost $50-$70 each. The governments Converter Box Coupon Program helps customers pay for the boxes. Right now, the U.S. government is giving away two $40 coupons to every household. The coupons can be used like credit cards, to buy certified converter boxes sold at many retail chains, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart. When you buy a converter box, be sure it is a certified one that approved by the government so you can use the $40 discount coupon. Please note that the converter box coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed, so use it right away. Look for the expiration date on the front of the card.

To get your coupons, call this toll-free number, 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY), and give them your name and address and the information asked for. You can also visit a website, www.dtv2009.gov, to apply. The application form is very simple; no social security number is required. The last day to request coupons is March 31, 2009, but there is no guarantee they will be available at that late date if money for the program runs out, so I recommend you apply immediately.

Most antennae should work with the converter box. You should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on channels 2-51 with your existing antenna. If you have an old antenna that attaches to your TV with two wires, you will need to get two adapters (baluns or matching transformers) at an electronic retailer.

Your VCR, DVD players, and video game systems will continue to work. The change only affects broadcast signals coming into your home/workplace from outside. You will need one digital-to-analog convertor box for each TV set or other device (such as a VCR) that only has an analog tuner. For example, if you want to use your analog TV and VCR at the same time (to watch one program and record another), you will need two converter boxes.

(2) Buy a Digital TV (TV with a built-in digital tuner). If you already have a Digital TV, you are ready for the switch.

To find out if you have a digital TV, look at the date you bought your TV and the labels. If you bought your TV before 1998, it is an analog TV. If you bought your TV between 1998 - 2004, and the diagonal screen size is less than 42 inches, it is almost certainly analog. If you bought your television after 2004, then it is almost certainly digital. If you see a label like digital tuner DTV or ATSC on the front or back of your TV, or in the instruction manual, then you have a digital television. Finally, if you get channels like 5-2, you have a Digital TV.

As of March 1, 2007, all television reception devices (including TVs, VCRs, and DVRs) must have a digital tuner. If a store still sells analog TVs, the store must place a label on them telling you that it is analog-only TV set. Therefore, all television equipment being sold today should contain a digital tuner, or should be clearly identified in the store as being an analog TV set.

By the way, you do not need a high definition TV to watch digital broadcast television. Digital TV is different from high definition TV. Digital TV is a new way to transmit standard definition shows. You do not have to get rid of your older analog TV or buy a high definition TV to get a signal. All you need is a television with a digital tuner or a converter box on your analog TV.

(3) Sign up for paid TV service. If all your TVs are connected to cable or satellite television, you are ready for the DTV change in 2009 and you do not need to buy a converter box. Just check with your local cable or satellite company to be sure.

However, if you have an analog TV that does not receive local broadcast stations through your paid provider, you will need a converter box to watch those local digital broadcasts on that TV.

Low power TV stations are not required to make the digital switch by February 17, 2009, so if you watch these small local stations (often a station run by an educational group such as a community college or college, a municipality, community group, church or individual), then you may want to buy a converter box with an analog pass through capability to continue to receive these low power channels.

A current list of coupon-eligible converter boxes is available at https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm. The converter box models that have analog pass-through capability are noted on the list with an asterisk next to them.

For more information about the Digital TV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or contact the FCC by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554

Christopher Chow, Information Officer
News & Public Information Office
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
505 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 5301, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 703-2234 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.