With the analog to digital transition deadline less than six weeks away, some consumers are opting to purchase a new television set instead of upgrading their old analog TV with a digital converter box. Competitively priced DTV television sets are now selling for less than $250, and according to a University of San Francisco professor of business, [...]
Archive for December, 2008
FCC releases DTV coverage maps for all full-service TV facilities
Looking for DTV signal Vs. analog signal coverage for your home or area? The FCC has issued a report (FCC Direct link: Map Book of All Full-Power Stations) showing the coverage maps for all full-service TV facilities who provide both analog and DTV signals. The report details 1,749 stations that have both an analog and [...]
Texas Firefighters To The DTV Rescue
In addition to battling blazing fires in burning buildings, firefighters in Texas are volunteering to help citizens battle confusion over the transition to digital television. Five of the local fire departments in the Rio Grande Valley area, and the Hidalgo County Emergency Services Division have teamed up to help the 2-1-1 service and local television [...]
Government’s Top 5 biggest mistakes on the transition to DTV
There’s no doubt that the transition to digital television in Feb. 2009 is a monumentous and difficult task for the U.S. Government to tackle. With that in mind, we’ve decided to post a critique on the top 5 biggest government blunders with the digital transition and tv converter box coupon program. 5. dtv.com is not the [...]
Is your cable company forcing you to rent or purchase a converter box?
The FCC states the following information for a consumer who is connected to a cable or satellite television service: If you subscribe to cable service, the DTV transition should not affect any TV sets that are connected to your cable services. End of story right? Not quite. Complaints are beginning to surface as cable and [...]
Local Community Programs To Help With DTV Transition
The United States Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration continue to work on different programs to educate the public of upcoming analog to digital transition. The NTIA has diverted an extra $5 million to different community programs, including; a $2.7 million grant to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and $1.6 million [...]
FCC Relaxes DTV Transition for 10 stations
Less than 60 days before the transition to digital television, the FCC has begun loosening restrictions for 10 television broadcast stations before signal testing begins for satellite operators. The extra time is to allow broadcasters to boost their DTV coverage area, and suprisingly, for some stations not broadcasting digital signals at full strength. (Edited 12-18-08: now includes [...]
FCC Chairmen Kevin Martin cancels December 18 meeting to focus on DTV
A critical letter from Senator Rockefeller and Representative Waxman stated that there wasn’t a ”consensus to move forward.” in regards to a Dec. 18 FCC Public Meeting. “In light of the letter, it does not appear that there is consensus to move forward and the agenda meeting has been canceled. The items will remain on circulation and the [...]
dtv.com is not the U.S. Government Website for DTV Coupons
Controversy surrounding a website called dtv.com is building over some recent news reports on the web. Consumers should note that dtv.com is not the government’s dtv coupon program. The official U.S. Government website for applying for TV converter box coupons is located at: http://www.dtv2009.gov. dtv.com is owned by a seperate business entity that promotes satellite [...]
SAFER Act allowing 30 day grace period after DTV Transition approved by House
The Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (SAFER Act) approved by the Senate last month was also approved by the House of Representatives last night. The bill will now make it’s way to the president’s desk, awaiting his approval. What this means Broadcasters will be able to use analog signals for up to 30 days past the Feb. [...]
