Senate Approves Additional DTV Funds

July 15, 2008

With the February 2009 deadline for the transition from analog to digital television less than eight months away, the Senate voted to allow additional funding to assist during the switch to digital broadcasting.

Amendment to Deficit Reduction Act Allows More DTV Funds

In an amendment to the Deficit Reduction Act, backed by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, additional funds left from the digital to analog converter box program may be used for two specific purposes: first, to educate elderly, minority, and rural television viewers who may not yet be aware of what the transition entails and how they might be impacted by it; and second, to make funds available to low-power television broadcasters to help them make the transition.

Additional DTV Funds Relieve Concerns of Low-Power Broadcasters

Concerns of low-power broadcasters that they would not be ready when the transition takes effect and that their signals would be un-viewable should be alleviated by the amendment which supersedes the original wording preventing these stations from receiving funding until October 2010.

Consumer Choices in Switch from Analog to Digital Television

Consumers who currently watch analog television have three options to upgrade their current television sets in order to be able view the new signals that will begin on February 17, 2009. They may purchase a digital-to-analog converter box which has analog pass-through capability; or purchase a digital-to-analog converter box without analog pass-through, and then add a splitter or A/B switch to receive both analog and digital signals; or subscribe to cable, satellite, or other pay television service

For more information about the analog-to-digital converter box coupon program visit the NTIA website or call the coupon program 24-hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).