8 Months Until the Digital Television Transition...

According to recent reports, while 84% of adults had heard of the digital transition, nearly half of the households that could lose television service after the transition to digital broadcasting are still unprepared for the switch. With only 8 months to go, it is important for you to act now to ensure you are ready. Below is a quick summary of how to prepare for the transition. You can also click here to download a packet of useful information from a variety of sources including a comprehensive Q&A.

How do Consumers Switch to DTV?

Preparing for the DTV transition requires one of three steps by February 17, 2009:

• Purchase a DTV converter box: Beginning January 1, 2008, consumers will be able to purchase a
  DTV converter box that enables continued broadcast television reception on an analog TV set. At
  about the same time, the federal government will offer consumers $40 coupons to go towards the
  purchase of these boxes. Click here to apply for a coupon. Note: Coupons are limited to two per household and will expire within 90 days of the date they are mailed.  To date, about 8.5 million households have requested 16 million coupons. Nearly 3 million coupons have been redeemed so far. There are 1,819 participating retailers in the coupon program, such as Best Buy Co., RadioShack Corp., Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

• Purchase a Digital TV set: Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. All TVs with a digital tuner are able to receive digital signals broadcast by television stations.

• Subscribe to a video service provider: Subscribe to a cable or satellite provider to continue using analog TV sets.

Remember those televisions in your home, office, etc. that are not frequently used. If they are not digital, they will also require a converter box or cable or satellite service to work after February 17, 2008.

Latest DTV News

Digital TV signals may require new equipment

Galveston Daily News, June 17, 2008

Galveston residents accustomed to adjusting indoor, television-top antennae for picture-perfect signals absent from audible hums and Poltergeist-like snow could miss their favorite TV shows come February.

Look Now: Digital TV Transition Already Here

ZDNet, June 15, 2008

But here’s where digital TV differs from conventional TV. Before, all you could do was watch the ad. Now, you can decide to watch more – of the advertiser’s message.

Many TV Viewers Unprepared For Switch

Washington Post, June 11, 2008

Nearly half of the households that could lose television service after the transition to digital broadcasting are still unprepared for the switch, according to a report released yesterday by the Government Accountability Office.

Digital TV converter box coupons expiring before use

Dallas Morning News, June 10, 2008

Some Americans are finding the government-issued coupons used to help pay for digital television converter boxes are expiring before they can be redeemed, House lawmakers said Tuesday.

Resources

Have more questions about television's digital transition? A number of organizations and government agencies have created helpful websites to answer consumers' questions:

Federal Communications Commission
National Telecommunications & Information Administration Coupon Program
Digital Television Transition Coalition

National Cable & Telecommunications Association
National Association of Broadcasters
Consumer Electronics Association
Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters