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What You Need To Know About DTV

February 15, 2009

The Sand Mountain Reporter


What You Need To Know About DTV
Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Sunday, Feburary 15, 2009


Almost everyone over the age of 35 remembers when we only received public broadcasting and the 3 major TV networks on our television sets. I remember those days well.

I also clearly recall the days when we had to depend on the rabbit ear antenna to receive those stations. Believe it or not, I still have a couple of TV’s at home where I have to adjust those long and often awkward rabbit ears.

A few years ago Congress voted to make 2 major changes in the way we receive our television programming over the airways. Instead of analog television as we have known it, a new broadcasting system will be implemented that will greatly enhance the television broadcast we see in our homes. This change is called Digital Television or DTV.

Some of you may be wondering why this television switch is even necessary. This transition of television broadcasting from analog to digital is important because it will make our television transmission more efficient and less expensive. This switch will also allow a dedicated section of analog spectrum to be used for first responders to improve on communication failures experienced during and after the 9-11 tragedy.

Additionally, this change will allow wireless service providers the ability to purchase this spectrum from the government to enhance broadband and wireless service and deploy advanced portable electronic devices.

The transition was to take place on February 17th, however, Congress passed legislation on February 4th that would delay the digital television switch until June 12th, 2009.

It is estimated that 6.5 million Americans are still unprepared for the television switch. Therefore the passage of this legislation means that millions of Americans will have the time they need to prepare for the conversion.

After thinking about the issue quite a bit, I decided to vote in support of the four-mouth delay because of my concern with the impact of rural residents across Alabama. Many Alabamians may not have participated in the federal coupon program, which would allow them to purchase a digital transition box for free. Without a digital converter box, your analog television simply will not work when the transition takes place.

Alabamians with newer television sets are already enjoying the benefits of DTV, but those with older analog sets are still getting programming as we always have. But that all will change on June 12th of this year, when full-power stations will stop broadcasting in analog.

Even though most Alabama television stations will broadcast both in analog and digital signals until June 12, I still encourage everyone with an analog TV to go out and purchase a converter box soon, if you haven’t already.

It should be noted that this doesn’t mean that those with an analog TV should get a new television set. Digital converter boxes can be used to change the digital signal to one that your current analog set can receive.

The federal coupon program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes. You can simply apply for a coupon by going to www.dtv.gov, or calling 1-888-CALL-FCC. Please feel free to call my office if you have any problems applying for those coupons.

The coupons expire 90 days after issuance if not used, so those who receive the coupons should use them immediately. About 300,000 coupons expire every week, and the unused funding is used to cover more coupons.

So, though I have mixed emotions about saying goodbye to those old rabbit ears because they remind me of my childhood days, this new technology will indeed be a great improvement to television as we now know it. The benefits and impact on the new digital technology age will improve our lives and make first responder communications better. Therefore, this is one change that I can agree with and I ask all of you to make sure that you are ready for the switch.

For release on or after February 18, 2009. For more information, please contact Darrell “DJ” Jordan at (202) 226-7602.