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 DTV facility and 69 stations having only DTV facilities. The maps show each station’s digital TV coverage as compared to it’s analog TV coverage within each Nielson Designated Market Area.

The report is broken down in to seperately linked PDF documents for each city/state as well as nationwide maps showing coverage for the ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS networks. 

As noted by the FCC, one map is presented for each TV station.

 Network Maps

Coverage Maps for All Designated Market Areas

December 30, 2008 | Filed Under News | Comments Off 

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 stations in providing assistance to citizens in hooking up their digital-to-analog converter boxes.

These citizens include the elderly and the disabled who may otherwise be left in the dark after the February 17 deadline for the digital transition.

It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of the Rio Grande Valley homes currently have cable or satellite television subscriptions, and 30 percent of consumers receive over-the-air signals television signals.  Those citizens who are currently watching with analog television without a paid subscription service and are receiving television signals via an antenna will have to obtain a digital converter box to continue watching their favorite shows.  KRGV NewsChannel 5 general manager John Kittleman has stated “that the Valley’s percentage of over-the-air homes is the highest in the continental United States”. He and others are concerned that possibly half of the 108,000 homes in the Valley area receiving television via antennas will not be ready.

In order to receive assistance in installing your converter boxes from our heroes in the firefighter department and other emergency responders, you must have already purchased your converter box and/or digital antennas. If you have purchased the needed items and cannot move your television to install the equipment or need other help installing the box or antenna dial 2-1-1 and help will be on their way. This service is being provided to make sure all citizens have a chance to continue watching television after the analog to digital transition. As this particular program is being established in the Rio Grande Valley area and other areas around the United States, please call your local firefighter departments to see if they are participating in this community effort in your area.

written by acwriter

Ref: http://www.themonitor.com/articles/residents_21452___article.html/dtv_homes.html

December 29, 2008 | Filed Under News, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

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 government’s website.
When the government purchased websites  for it’s coupon program (www.dtv2009.gov) and the FCC’s DTV info page (www.dtv.gov), they forgot to purchase THE most important domain name in which approximately 4,000 to 18,000 consumers mistakingly browse every month trying to find DTV information. dtv.com is owned by a company that markets satellite tv software for computers.


4. FCC sponsors a Nascar vehicle for 3 races

The FCC decided to sponsor a NASCAR vehicle (No. 38) with driver David Gilliland for a total of three races as part of its digital television outreach program for a total of $350,000, but not without criticism or mishap.  During the course of the sponsorship, the No. 38 car crashed 2 times out of 3 events. In light of the sponsorship, taxpayer watchdog CAWG.org named FCC Federal Chairmen Kevin Martin as porker of the month for October, 2008.

3. TV Converter Box Coupon Program runs out of funds to mail coupons, almost
Adding more confusion to the Digital Transition, The NTIA (Government agency in charge of the coupon program) almost ran out of funds to deliver coupons to recipients. Before turning into a crisis, the NTIA made requests and was approved for more postage stamp funds.

2. Consumers with analog TVs need a converter box, AND a antenna
Some critics are placing blame on the U.S. Government for not focusing enough attention on reception of digital television signals, forcing some consumers to spend more money than just the cost of a converter box.  A recent study by Centris group reported that up to six million people with Digital TV receivers may still be unable to watch TV in 2009. A WashingtonPost article highlights DTV reception issues for aparments or condos that share a “community antenna” (also known as a master antenna system). Costs to upgrade master antenna systems for DTV signals can run anywhere from $5,000-$15,000.

1. DTV Coupons are issued with a 90 day expiration
The #1 complaint at TVConversionhelp and DTV USA Forum, consumers are faced with challenges like lack of converter box supply, and of all things, a 90 day expiration printed (and enforced) on converter box coupons. The Government has not budged on it’s (2) coupons per household policy, so if you’ve applied, received, and let your coupons expire, you’re out of luck. Congressional leaders have made requests to allow for expired coupon holders to re-apply, however, there have been zero legislative changes to allow this to happen.

Honerable Mention
Is the dtv coupon program going to run out of funding before the scheduled ending of the program on 3/31/09? Current projections are showing that funds will dry up at the end of February, 2009.

December 19, 2008 | Filed Under News | 6 Comments 

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 dollars to The Leadership conference on Civil Rights Education Fund. This money is in addition to the original $5 million dollar allotment from the government to be used for DTV educational purposes and the $1.5 million dollar DTV coupon program initiated to help offset cost for consumers in purchasing two of their boxes per household.

These agencies will be dealing with getting more local based community groups initiated to lend assistance to help those who are language challenged or house-bound due to age or disability. These programs will include translation assistance as well as in home assistance to those who need it including purchasing and hook up help. The DTV Assistance Centers in charge of these more locally based educational efforts will be in several different United States metropolitan areas. The exact location of these centers is scheduled to be disclosed in January. However, some of the cities designated for these centers are;

* Atlanta
* Detroit
* Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area
* Portland, Ore.
* San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland metropolitan area
* Seattle-Tacoma

Plans are to have two centers operating in each city. Hopefully, they will be up and running fully prepared in time to help consumers be ready before the big change over.

-written by acwriter

Ref: Local assistance for transition to digital TV - SFGate.com

December 16, 2008 | Filed Under News, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

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 information about satellite operators: Thanks Trip in VA)

The FCC permits satellite companies to test TV station signal strength and import similar out-of-market TV stations to viewers who do receive a good signal from the in-market station, and as Broadcast and Cable notes:

…during the DTV transition, the DTV signals of a number of stations are not yet at full strength or coverage for various reasons and the FCC has exempted them from the requirement since that would allow the importation of signals to viewers who will eventually be getting the relevant in-market station. The commission has said it would be flexible about such issues and work with stations making the DTV switch.

ABC-owned WABC-DT in New York is among the stations that will receive extra time, with a target digital transition deadline of June 15, 2009, due in part to the 9/11 attacks that destroyed it’s broadcast towers.

Other stations that have received a reprieve (as listed by Broadcast and Cable)

(WTVG Toledo; KAUZ Wichita Falls, TX; KNOP North Platte, NE; WNKY Dowl Green, KY; KCBY Coos Bay, OR; KVAL Eugene, OR; WTRF Wheeling, WVA; and WBOY Clarksburg, WVA.)

The relaxed digital transition deadlines follow after an unrelated press release of seven ”at risk” communities determined by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.  To make the “at risk” list, a community must have relatively high numbers of residents who watch analog over-the-air television broadcasts and relatively low participation in the NTIA’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  Here are the “at risk” areas, as published by thestandard.com

  1. San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland
  2. Seattle/Tacoma
  3. Atlanta
  4. Detroit
  5. Minneapolis-St. Paul
  6. San Antonio
  7. Portland, Oregon
December 16, 2008 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

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 Commissioners can still vote on them.”, said by an FCC Spokesman (From: Broadcasting and Cable).

Instead, FCC Chairmen Kevin Martin was advised to focus on the DTV Transition.

The FCC meeting was to highlight a few issues including a proposed $11 million in fines against seven cable and telco television service providers.

Other items on the Dec. 18th, 2008 meeting agenda were:

1) spectrum auction rules/free broadband proposal
2) wireless license renewal
3) DTV translator service
4) cable carriage rules
5) violations of the Commission’s DTV consumer education requirements
6) wireless, enhanced 911 location requirements
7) Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service. Admission is free; you pay at the door.

December 14, 2008 | Filed Under News, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

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 TV software products and asks for personal information.

A recent thread on DTV USA Forum located at: http://www.dtvusaforum.com/everything-else/989-www-dtv-com.html has brought about a discussion on dtv.com and whether it’s morally correct for business owners to purchase domain names that closely resemble website names owned by the U.S. Government.

Post your thoughts on dtv.com by leaving a comment below or visiting DTV USA Forum.

December 14, 2008 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

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. 17, 2009 digital transition date to air DTV education messages and programming.

More importantly, broadcasters will also be able to broadcast emergency weather or public safety information during the 30 day grace period to viewers with analog only televisions (such as mobile and handheld TVs).

 

December 11, 2008 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

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