The Broadcast Digital Transition

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Curtis Sparks
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1 The Broadcast Digital Transition Impact on Cable Television Households Juan Otero Senior Director, Government Affairs Comcast Cable 1

2 The switch to digital-only television signals in early 2009 will usher in the most substantive changes to American TV in generations. David Hatch, National Journal, 6/07 2

3 The Broadcast Digital Transition Congress said that full power over-the air broadcast TV stations will convert from analog to digital broadcasting by February 17, They have been given a new digital broadcast channel for that purpose. At that time, they are to return the analog spectrum they are currently using to the federal government. 3

4 Why is There a Broadcast Digital Transition? The federal government wants to reclaim valuable spectrum that the broadcasters have been using and put it to other uses. Some will be used to enhance communications for emergency service providers like police, fire and emergency rescue, Much of it has been auctioned for commercial wireless services including mobile broadband. The recent auction raised almost $20 billion for the federal treasury. 4

5 The Broadcast Digital Transition How will this transition affect your television viewing? If your TV is hooked up to cable television or another subscription video service, you don t need to do anything you ll be fine. 5

6 The Broadcast Digital Transition But if you own an analog TV set that is not connected to cable and uses either rabbit ears or a roof-top antenna to receive signals, you will no longer be able to watch broadcast TV channels on it as of February 17, 2009 unless you take one of three steps. 6

7 What Are Those Three Steps? Replace your TV set with one that includes a digital tuner, or Obtain a digital-to-analog converter that will convert digital TV signals back to analog, or Connect each of those analog TV sets to your local cable or another subscription video service offering local signals. 7

8 Some Background Efforts to improve television signals began in the 1980s. Congress, in the 1996 Telecom Act, directed the FCC to give each analog broadcaster a new digital channel to migrate its broadcasts to. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 set the Broadcast Digital Transition deadline at February 17, 2009 and allocated up to $1.5 billion for a digital-to-analog converter box program. 8

9 How to Find Out if a TV is Analog or Digital A TV set with a "digital tuner" built in is configured to receive and display the new digital over-the-air broadcast TV signals that are currently being transmitted and that will be the only broadcast TV signals transmitted starting February 17, Consult the owner's manual or look up information about the TV set on the manufacturer's website. 9

10 How to Find Out if a TV is Analog or Digital Take an up-close look at the TV set to find out if it has an input connection labeled "digital input" or "ATSC" (it's the acronym for the new digital TV format). A TV set purchased before 1998 probably doesn't have a digital tuner. Almost every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional "analog" set that can't display digital TV signals. A big-screen, projection TV purchased between 1998 and 2004 may have a built-in digital tuner. A limited number of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches or larger) made before 2004 contained digital tuners. 10

11 How to Find Out if a TV is Analog or Digital Starting in 2004, many TV sets featured digital tuners. However, some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that do not contain digital tuners and cannot receive digital broadcast TV signals. These sets are usually advertised as "HD-ready" or "HDTV monitor" sets. While they can display digital and high-definition signals, you will need a digital converter or cable TV connection to receive those signals. 11

12 Potential Problem The Digital Cliff According to market-research firm Centris, more than 9 million households could experience some digital-tv-reception problems with the switch to digital TV. The risk of signal problems depends on terrain and distance from towers. These viewers will need to upgrade their receiving antennas as well as purchase new digital TVs or converter boxes. To find out if you might be affected, visit 12

13 Consumer Awareness Is Growing A survey by the Leichtman Research Group (LRG) found that 84% of all adults had heard of the digital transition, nearly double the rate from six months earlier. According to a new study from the NAB, which found that 91% of Hispanic households getting their free TV via rooftop or indoor antennas knew about the upcoming DTV switch, compared with 31% in a similar study in September

14 What is the Federal Govt. Doing To Help? Congress directed the U.S. Department of Commerce to set up a $1.5 billion coupon program to subsidize the purchase of digital-to-analog converters. The converters allow analog TVs not connected to cable or another video service to continue to receive over-the-air broadcast signals, Each household may request two coupons but supplies are limited. Coupons are valid for 90 days only and may be redeemed by retailers certified by the federal government. The government is unlikely to extend the coupon s valid dates DTV-2009, 14

Coupon Distribution Coupons look like plastic gift cards used widely in the retail industry, but carry no stored value, Coupons are sent to consumers via U.S.

15 Coupon Distribution Coupons look like plastic gift cards used widely in the retail industry, but carry no stored value, Coupons are sent to consumers via U.S. mail and are accompanied by a list of nearby participating retailers, a list of coupon-eligible converter boxes and FAQs, As of April 7, NTIA reported to Congress that 10 million coupons had already been requested. 15

16 Analog to Digital Converters National Retailers include Wal Mart Best Buy Circuit City Radio Shack Sears Most Converters $50 - $80 16

17 Television Receiver Rules All television receivers imported or shipped interstate after March 1, 2007 must have a digital tuner, Consumer electronics retailers can continue to sell analogonly television sets but - since May 25, 2007, they have been required to put clear and conspicuous labels on TVs warning customers about their limitations, The FCC has pursued aggressive enforcement through field inspectors looking for violations in local stores. 17

18 What Cable is Doing to Help Cable has launched an extensive consumer education campaign -- including English and Spanish language TV advertising - valued at $200 million, and an English and Spanish language website. The new ads can be viewed at Web Content: Comcast has created a Broadcast Digital Transition toolkit specifically to help local government communicate with constituents on this important topic, Cable has partnered with diversity, senior citizen, and other organizations to get useful information out to populations who may be most affected by the Broadcast Digital Transition, Cable bills are carrying special messages through March

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20 What Local Government Can Do Make the Broadcast Digital Transition part of your constituent communications, Use the material in the Broadcast Digital Transition toolkit to Place reminders on your website and in your newsletters. Address the Transition in your town hall meetings. Pass a resolution and/or Issue a press release urging your constituents to learn more and offering help. W with your cable company, area broadcasters, and others who offer resources to help keep your constituents informed about the 2/17/09 Broadcast Digital Transition. 20

21 For More Information visit: Thank You! 21

for the Project Helper Ability to connect a digital-to-analog converter box to an analog TV set and demonstrate how this is done to others.

for the Project Helper Ability to connect a digital-to-analog converter box to an analog TV set and demonstrate how this is done to others. 2009 THE YEAR OF THE DIGITAL TV TRANSITION SPECIAL TO 4-H MEMBERS for the Project Helper Knowledge about connecting devices to televisions: Life skill: Educational standard: Ability to connect a digital-to-analog