On February 17, 2009, the digital television transition is scheduled to occur. On that day, most television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and start broadcasting only digital signals. The new digital signals will enable broadcasters to better serve their local communities, and will provide each TV a higher quality picture. The DTV transition will usher in a new digital era in the United States, one that we have been working towards since the late 1980s. This change, however, will impact many consumers. It is important to know how it affects you and what you can do to prepare for it.

TV converter box coupon program.

First, if you purchase any form of pay-TV service, such as cable or satellite, it is highly likely that you will not be impacted by the DTV transition. I encourage consumers to check with their pay-TV service provider to see if any actions are necessary.

If you have a digital television (one that can receive digital signals) and no pay-TV, you should be able to receive the digital signals.

However, if you have an analog set and rely on over-the-air broadcasts to receive your service, then you will be impacted by the DTV transition. Consumers who have analog-only television will have to acquire a digital “converter box” that will permit your TV to receive digital signals.

Congress has set aside some money to subsidize the cost of these converter boxes. The National Telecommunications Information Administration of the Department of Commerce is administering a coupon program. Under the coupon program, each household with analog-only televisions can receive two coupons to purchase set top box converters. The coupons cover the first $40 of the converter box, and they may be obtained from the NTIA beginning in January 2008.

On February 6, 2008, the Committee on Energy and Commerce hosted a manufacturer demonstration of digital-to-analog converter boxes for Members of Congress and congressional staff.  These devices will convert digital signals to analog format for analog televisions that receive broadcast signals over the air, using rooftop or rabbit ear antennas.

Photographs and video footage of the manufacturer event are available at the Energy & Commerce committee website.

To view the products displayed at the converter box demonstration, please follow the links below:

• Artec/Ultima Electronics Corporation: www.artecdtv.com
• Best Buy/Insignia: www.bestbuy.com/dtv
• Digital Stream: www.dstreamtech.com
• EchoStar: www.dishnetwork.com
• GE/Jasco: www.jascoproducts.com/hdtv
• GXi International: www.AccessHD.tv
• Max Media: http://www.convertmy.tv/
• RCA/Alco Electronics: www.keepmytv.com
• Tivax: www.tivax.com
• Zenith/LG Electronics: www.zenith.com/dtv

The DTV transition is an important develop for American consumers. I urge all of you to use these materials to learn about the transition, stay informed, and do what you need to do before February 17, 2009.

Representative Dingell addressed this issue in episode 13 of his podcast.