Analog to Digital Television Transition. Government Mandate Implementation started with first wave of digital stations on-air November 1999 Implementation.

Analog to Digital Analog to Digital Television TransitionTelevision Transition

Government MandateGovernment Mandate

Implementation started with first wave Implementation started with first wave of digital stations on-air November of digital stations on-air November 19991999

Affects all full power television stationsAffects all full power television stations Full power analog television broadcast Full power analog television broadcast

must cease February 17, 2009 must cease February 17, 2009 12:59:59 PM 12:59:59 PM

Low power television and translators Low power television and translators are not affectedare not affected

WHY?????????WHY?????????

Current television stations broadcast on Current television stations broadcast on channels 2-69channels 2-69

Each channel takes up 6Mhz of Each channel takes up 6Mhz of spectrumspectrum

Only 1 program can be broadcast on an Only 1 program can be broadcast on an analog channelanalog channel

More spectrum needed for public More spectrum needed for public service communicationsservice communications

What’s GainedWhat’s Gained

Multiple programs can be broadcast on a Multiple programs can be broadcast on a digital channeldigital channel

More programs in the same amount of More programs in the same amount of spectrumspectrum

Better quality pictures and soundBetter quality pictures and sound Digital television will broadcast on channels Digital television will broadcast on channels

2-51 which frees up18 channels for other use2-51 which frees up18 channels for other use These channels can be broken down into These channels can be broken down into

many smaller pieces and auctioned off to the many smaller pieces and auctioned off to the highest bidder…. Government makes moneyhighest bidder…. Government makes money

Some spectrum will be used for public safetySome spectrum will be used for public safety

What’s It MeanWhat’s It Mean

All analog TV’s that receive OTA All analog TV’s that receive OTA signals will quit working.signals will quit working.

Unless:Unless:– Connected to a digital converter boxConnected to a digital converter box– Connected to Cable TV (not MATV)Connected to Cable TV (not MATV)– Connected to Satellite with local into Connected to Satellite with local into

locallocal Cable is required to maintain analog Cable is required to maintain analog

delivery and gradually phase it out.delivery and gradually phase it out.

Government Government Sponsored Converter Sponsored Converter

BoxesBoxes Congress created a program to Congress created a program to

provide two coupons to all U.S. provide two coupons to all U.S. households wishing to continue households wishing to continue using existing analog TV’s with using existing analog TV’s with OTA antennas. The coupons are OTA antennas. The coupons are worth $40 each and can be used worth $40 each and can be used towards the purchase of qualified towards the purchase of qualified converters.converters.

Converter Box Converter Box CouponsCoupons

Deaf or hard of hearing callers Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is available from 9 AM - 9 PM Eastern available from 9 AM - 9 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.Time Monday through Friday.

Download a Coupon Application @ Download a Coupon Application @ https://www.dtv2009.gov/https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Call the Coupon Program 24-hour Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline hotline 1-888-DTV-20091-888-DTV-2009 (1-888- (1-888-388-2009). 388-2009).

Mail a coupon application to: PO Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Fax a coupon application to 2000. Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) 4632)

Digital TV's

All digital sets manufactured All digital sets manufactured today must be capable of today must be capable of receiving ATSC broadcasts.receiving ATSC broadcasts.

Some early sets had digital Some early sets had digital processing but are not ATSC processing but are not ATSC compatible. compatible.

Check your owners manual to be Check your owners manual to be sure.sure.

As The Transition As The Transition OccursOccurs

Stations can transition earlyStations can transition early Some stations will be changing Some stations will be changing

channels, when they do converter channels, when they do converter boxes and digital sets will have to be boxes and digital sets will have to be re-scannedre-scanned

Broadcasters, Cable and Satellite Broadcasters, Cable and Satellite operators will have to work closely operators will have to work closely together to make it a smooth together to make it a smooth transitiontransition

Closed CaptioningClosed Captioning

CC Must Work CC Must Work

Closed Captioning rules still apply after Closed Captioning rules still apply after the transition for the PRIMARY digital the transition for the PRIMARY digital channel. They DO NOT ALWAYS apply channel. They DO NOT ALWAYS apply for sub-channels but will be phased infor sub-channels but will be phased in

Aspect ratio conversion can cause Aspect ratio conversion can cause problems with CCproblems with CC

Improper connection / setup between Improper connection / setup between STB and TV can cause problems as STB and TV can cause problems as well well

The Life of CC DataThe Life of CC DataExternal ProgramsExternal Programs

Captions are added by program Captions are added by program providerprovider

Transmitted up to satelliteTransmitted up to satellite Downlink at station, recorded, Downlink at station, recorded,

playback and later rebroadcast playback and later rebroadcast over the airover the air

Received by cable system and Received by cable system and rebroadcast to the cabled homerebroadcast to the cabled home

Closed Captioning Closed Captioning DataData

The top image is The top image is a shot of first a shot of first generation CC generation CC data.data.

The bottom image The bottom image is the same data is the same data after broadcast after broadcast with errors.with errors.

IF You Experience CC IF You Experience CC ProblemsProblems

Check other channelsCheck other channels Check another TV setCheck another TV set Call a friend and ask them to Call a friend and ask them to

check the same programcheck the same program If you can’t solve the problem and If you can’t solve the problem and

contact the station be prepared to contact the station be prepared to provide the following info:provide the following info:

Is the problem just on this Is the problem just on this program or channel?program or channel?

Analog or Digital?Analog or Digital? Is it on all sets?Is it on all sets? Are you watching OTA, on Cable Are you watching OTA, on Cable

or Satellite? Which provider?or Satellite? Which provider? The more info you can provide The more info you can provide

the better !the better !

WFLA Contact InfoWFLA Contact Info

Mark SchaeferMark Schaefer

[email protected]@wfla.com

813 225-2708813 225-2708

FCC Contact InfoFCC Contact Info

Toll-Free: (866) 918-5777 (Voice) Toll-Free: (866) 918-5777 (Voice) or (866) 787-6222 (TTY) or (866) 787-6222 (TTY)

Fax: (202) 418-2827Fax: (202) 418-2827 E-Mail: E-Mail: [email protected]@fcc.gov

The News CenterThe News Center

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS