Generic Digital Television Transition Act 6 12 09 V1a

Digital Television Transition RESCHEDULED to June 12, 2009

Targeted for Residential TV Viewers

For Informational Purposes to the General Public

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2008Jerome Zaslow

Page 2 September 23, 2008

Welcome

Welcome to this informational session. This session has been designed to help introduce you to the Act passed by Congress that will be changing the way free television is broadcast to you over the airways.

It will also help you to understand specifically what this change means to you and what actions you may need to take.

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What YOU Will Learn

• Describe the changes that will occur as a result of this Act of Congress

• Identify how this change will directly affect you and your family

• Identify any actions you will need to take as a result of this change

Upon completion of this session you will be able to:

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The Digital Television Transition Act

The Transition from Analog to Digital Broadcast• In 2005 Congress passed the Digital Television Transition

Act

• Currently channels 2 through 13 (VHF stations) and channels 14 through 99 (UHF stations) broadcast their signals over the airways in an Analog format that is free of charge to viewers and to cable and satellite service providers

• This Act calls for a change (from Analog format to Digital format) in the way free television signals will be broadcast

• This Act was originally scheduled for February 12th, 2009 but NOW goes into effect on June 12th, 2009

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The Digital Television Transition

Why Have We Done This?• Digital transmission has a sharper picture & better sound

• The amount of space (or bandwidth) available to broadcast all TV channels is limited

• 1 Analog TV channel uses significantly more space than 1 Digital TV channel

- In the same space used for 1 Analog channel

- You can have between 8 to 12 Digital channels

1 Analog Channel1 2

3

4

56

7

8 9 10

1112

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Why Have We Done This? (continued)

• The same thing holds true when comparing Analog to High Definition or HD channels

- In the same space used for 1 Analog channel

- You can have 2 HD Channels

1 Analog Channel

HD 1

HD 2

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What Does This Mean?

• Analog TVs (most TVs) cannot accept Digital signals to produce a picture

• After June 12th, 2009, the following will occur…

- Analog TVs will no longer receive Analog signals

- ONLY Digital signals will be broadcast free of charge over the airways to YOU and to cable and satellite service providers

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What Does This Mean? (continued)• If you have an Analog TV it will either require…

- A device that will modify the Digital signal in order to produce a picture

OR

- YOU will need to subscribe to a pay television service (either cable or satellite)

• If you have a TV with a Digital tuner, it can receive and process a Digital signal to produce a picture

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Who WILL be Affected?• If YOU have an Analog TV and receive your television

signals from the airways via an antenna

Who Will NOT be Affected?• If YOU have a TV with a Digital tuner

• If YOU have an Analog TV and receive your television signals from a pay television service provider (cable or satellite)

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How do I identify a TV that has a Digital tuner?• ALL TVs sold after March 1st, 2007 must disclose if it has

an integrated Digital tuner

An HDTV, EDTV, or SDTV has an

Integrated Digital Tuner

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How do I know if my TV DOES NOT have a Digital tuner?

• All TVs sold after March 1st, 2007 that DO NOT have an Integrated Digital tuner MUST be clearly labeled with a Consumer Alert notice

• If you’re not sure check your owner’s manual or go to the manufacturer’s Web site

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TVs that DO NOT have a Digital tuner(Examples):• An older Analog TV

• A TV identified as a Digital Monitor or HDTV Monitor

• A TV identified as Digital Ready or HDTV Ready

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What Choices do I have if I am Affected?

• Purchase a TV with an integrated Digital tuner

• Connect to a pay TV service provider (cable or satellite)

• Purchase a converter device that will modify the Digital broadcast signal so your Analog TV can produce a picture

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Digital Converter Box Facts• Pay television service customers (cable or satellite) will

NOT need to purchase a Digital Converter Device

• If you need one, YOU can purchase a Digital Converter Device for about $40 to $70

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Digital Converter Box Facts (continued)• YOU can receive a $40 Discount Coupon from the Federal

Government through the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (a max of 2 coupons per household)

• Coupons can be requested online at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling the 24 hour hot line at 888-388-2009 (TTY 877-530-2634)

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Your Role

• You need to look closely and see if this will affect your service

• If you are affected, you will need to take any appropriate steps so you continue receiving television service

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Summary

You now should know:

• The changes that will occur as a result of the Digital Television Transition

• How these changes will directly affect you and your family• What actions you will have to take as a result of these

changes

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THANK YOU&

Enjoy a sharper picture and real life sound!

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