Digital Television (DTV) is an advanced broadcasting technology that will transform your television viewing experience. DTV enables broadcasters to offer television with movie-quality picture and sound. It can also offer multiple programming choices, called multicasting, and interactive capabilities.

Converting to DTV also will free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used for other important services, such as public and safety services (police and fire departments, emergency rescue), and advanced wireless services.

Q. What happens on February 17, 2009, and why is it so important to my TV?
A. Under legislation passed by Congress – the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – full-power over-the-air broadcast television stations are required to turn off their analog channels on February 17, 2009, and continue broadcasting exclusively in the digital format.

Q. Why is Congress doing this?
A. DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will enable television stations to offer crystal clear pictures and sound, more channels and even free, over-the-air high-definition television (HDTV) for consumers with HD television sets.. Since digital television is more efficient than analog television, the analog turn-off will also free up parts of the airwaves to provide wireless spectrum for future innovative services by entrepreneurs.

Q. How do I know if I will be able to watch television after February 17, 2009?
A. If your television set is connected to cable or satellite, your analog television set will continue to operate after February 17, 2009. Your cable or satellite provider will do the digital to analog conversion for you. If your analog television set is connected to rabbit ears or an outside antenna on your roof, your analog television set will NOT operate after February 17, 2009 without a digital to analog converter box that receives the over-the-air digital broadcasts.

If you have purchased a television set within the last several years, it is very likely it has the new digital television tuner already built in. Since 2006 all television sets and other television devices like VCRs, TiVos and DVDs with tuners sold in the United States have the new digital “ATSC tuners” in them thereby not requiring a digital to analog converter box. Check your television owners manual to see if an “ATSC tuner” is included. If so, you are ready for the digital transition! If not, you will need to make some preparations before February 17, 2009 to maintain television service.

Q. Will my VCR still work after February 17, 2009?
A. Playback from your VCR or DVD or TiVo to your analog television set will continue to operate after February 17, 2009 without a digital to analog converter box. If you record television programs over the air to your VCR or DVD or TiVo and it is more than a year or two old, it is possible you will need a converter box for it as well. Again, check your owners manual to see if an “ATSC tuner” is already installed. If so, it is ready for the digital transition! If not, you will need a digital to analog converter to continue to record off the air after February 17, 2009.

Q. Where can I get “digital to analog converter boxes” and how much do they cost?
A. Digital to analog converter boxes (as well as digital television sets) have been available for some time since broadcasters have been broadcasting not only the familiar analog television signals, but the new digital television signals as well. These early converter boxes have been somewhat expensive so Congress has set aside $900 million dollars to help people with televisions not connected to cable or satellite to continue to receive television signals. Beginning in 2008, the National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA) will begin to issue voucher coupons in the amount of $40 each with a maximum of two (2) coupons per household good for 90 days from the date of issuance for the purchase of special $50 digital to analog converter boxes costing the consumer a total of $20 for two digital to analog converter boxes. Radio Shack as well as Best Buy and Circuit City, just to name a few, have announced they will have these $50 digital to analog converter boxes available in 2008.

Q. Will my current television antenna work with digital television?
A. Yes. With a good indoor or outdoor antenna, you will maximize your DTV reception. In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of antenna that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals.

However, after February 17, 2009 some television stations will be moving to a different channel in a different frequency band that may require a different antenna type from the one you may now have. For example, some channels in the “VHF band” (Channels 2-13) may be moving to the “UHF band” (Channels 14-51) and vice versa. Receiving VHF and UHF signals require different antenna types, although some antennas are designed to receive both VHF and UHF signals.

The good news is that there’s a Web site that can tell you what antenna you need in any part of the country – just by typing in your address and zip code. For help choosing an antenna in order to receive your free, local broadcast TV channels, visit www.antennaweb.org.

Q. Will my old analog TV be able to view High Definition (HD) programs?
A. Yes, by using a digital 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. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box.

The digital to analog converter box will automatically convert the HD picture to a format your television can display. If a television program is transmitted in High Definition, you too will be able to enjoy the program on your analog television with the help of the digital to analog converter box, but the program will not be in HD just as a color program will only be in black and white on a black and white television set.

Q. If I get a digital to analog converter box before February 17, 2009, will I have to wait until the transition before I can hook it to my television?
A. No, you do not have to wait. All television stations are now broadcasting separate digital signals along with the analog signals so as soon as you get either a new television set or a digital to analog converter box, you can connect it to your antenna and start enjoying all digital television has to offer you today!

Q. Will I need to do anything special on February 17, 2009 to continue to view my29 WFTC DTV?
A. NO.

Q. Where can I go for more detailed information on the coming Digital Television Transition?
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has created a web site to address many of the same questions we have answered here as well as other more detailed questions. Go to www.dtvanswers.com for that web site. NAB also has an information telephone hotline you can call as well, 1-888-DTV-2009.

Also the Federal Communications Commission, (FCC) the federal agency that regulates radio, cable and television broadcasting has set up a web site with even more information. That web site is www.dtv.gov.

Both websites contain videos and podcasts about the upcoming transition and what you need to do to be ready when it happens on February 17, 2009.

Updated: March 6, 2008