The digital television (DTV) transition

Broadcast television stations in the US have converted to digital broadcasting.
You may need to take action to continue receiving your favorite TV programs.

Support the No Cost Box!

As the June 12th deadline for the federally mandated Digital Television Transition has passed, electronics retailers across the country could make the difference between TV access and a blank screen for tens of thousands of poor and working class communities in New Mexico.

Press release

Please encourage retailers to sell a converter box at no cost to consumers with a DTV coupon here:

http://petitionspot.com/petitions/nmdtvtransition

Also, call our hotline at 505-828-3264 and leave your story or comments about your experience with the digital transition and/or converter boxes.

Latest news		Digital television is here! Are you digital?
DTV Converter Box Program Update
Donate your extra converter box coupons
Free converter boxes
Free in-home installation
Fixing DTV reception problems
Info on the digital transition
Do I need to take action?
What are my options?
How do I get my TV Converter Box Coupons?
What kind of converter box should I buy?
Recommended converter boxes
For more information on DTV
Help spread the word

DTV Converter Box Program Update

The transition to digital broadcasts by full power television stations was completed on June 12, 2009. The TV Converter Box Coupon Program remains ready to support consumers through the shut off of analog broadcasts by providing coupons to eligible households. Below is information for consumers who wish to participate in the Program.

* Application Deadline. Eligible households may continue to apply for TV converter box coupons while supplies last, until July 31, 2009. Applications for coupons are accepted online, by phone, by mail and by fax.

* Coupon Expiration. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. The expiration date is printed on the coupon. Even though the last day to apply for coupons is July 31, 2009, consumers can use their coupons at participating retailers until they expire. Converter boxes can be purchased at most national retail stores. Coupon-eligible converter boxes also may be purchased online or by telephone and shipped directly to your home.

* Applications for Replacement Coupons. The Coupon Program is accepting applications from consumers whose coupons expired without being redeemed while supplies last, until July 31, 2009. The Coupon Program limits each U.S. household to a total of two redeemed coupons.

* Requested coupons are now mailed via First-Class Mail.

Visit www.dtv2009.gov for more information on the coupon program.

Donate your extra converter box coupons

To assist with the digital TV transition process, NMMLP is accepting donations of unwanted coupons and delivering DTV converter boxes to people in New Mexico. Recent reports show that New Mexico is the least prepared state for the DTV transition. If you have an extra converter box coup0n, you can help a neighbor be prepared for the DTV transition.

Visit www.donatedtv.com/ddtv/ to donate your coupons to NMMLP or mail your coupons to:

Media Literacy Project
6400 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque NM 87109

Thanks!

Free converter boxes

For a limited time only, FreeTvSignal.com is offering the Artec T3AP converter box FREE with a converter box coupon. The Artec T3AP is a top rated converter box that supports analog pass through. Quantities are limited. No credit card required. Free shipping, too!

Order a free converter box

Free in-home installation

Free installation and set-up of converter boxes is now available. See http://www.dtv.gov/dtv_resources.htm for a local assistance center or contractor near you.

Fixing DTV reception problems

In many areas, viewers are having difficulty receiving certain television channels following the DTV transition. This is especially the case with channels that transitioned from UHF to VHF signals, or that are broadcasting on the higher VHF channels. The FCC has developed a “DTV Reception Problems?” consumer guide to walk people through two potential solutions: ‘double rescanning’ and antenna adjustment.

Here’s how to ‘double rescan:’
- Detach antenna
- Rescan converter box (to clear memory)
- Detach converter box power cord for 1 minute (to ensure that memory is clear)
- Reattach both power cord and antenna
- Rescan again

For more information, see the “DTV Reception Problems?” consumer guide from the FCC.

Do I need to take action?

Virtually all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States have stopped broadcasting on analog airwaves and have begun broadcasting only in digital.

- If you have cable TV, satellite TV, or a pay TV service, you do NOT need to do anything.  You will continue to receive all the TV channels you get now.  (You do NOT need to upgrade to “digital cable” or any other service.)

- If you have a TV with a digital tuner, you also do NOT need to do anything.  Many TVs sold since 2004 have digital tuners.  (If you’re unsure if your TV has a digital tuner, check your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.  Also, if your TV has an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC”, it has a digital tuner.) 

- If your TV set uses an antenna, such as "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna AND it doesn’t have a digital tuner, you need to take action to continue to receive all the TV channels you used to get.  Continue reading to find out what you can do.

What are my options?

1. Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after the digital transition. Most converter boxes cost $50-$70.  Using a TV Converter Box Coupon (see below), you will pay $10-$30.

or

2. Connect to a cable, satellite or other pay TV service.  (More expensive.)

or

3. Purchase a television with a digital tuner.  (More expensive.)  You do NOT need to buy a high-definition television (HDTV) – even more expensive!

How do I get my TV Converter Box Coupons?

The federal government’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, which can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.  Apply for your coupons by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), apply online at www.DTV2009.gov. You will receive your coupon(s) in the mail.  The program ends on July 31, 2009.

What kind of converter box should I buy?

We recommend purchasing a TV converter box with analog pass-through.   These converter boxes will receive the new digital signals from the major TV stations, as well as the analog signals that will continue to be broadcast by smaller TV stations and “translator” stations that serve rural areas of New Mexico and other states.

In addition, we recommend purchasing a TV converter box with advanced captioning capabilities.  These converter boxes will allow your TV to display closed-captions and other services used by deaf and hearing-impaired people. 

All of the converter boxes listed below feature analog pass-through and advanced captioning.

Recommended converter boxes

printer friendly version of this list

For more information

The Digital TV Transition (FCC website)
www.dtv.gov

TV Converter Box Coupon Program
www.dtv2009.gov

Digital Television Transition (Leadership Conference on Civil Rights website)
www.civilrights.org/dtv

DTV converter box reviews, ratings, and comparisons
http://dtvconverterboxes.blogspot.com/2008/07/analog-to-digital-converter-box-review.html

Also see recent press clips about NMMLP's work on the digital transition

Help spread the word

Download and print this bilingual (English/Spanish) flyer.

Download flyer

Download, print and distribute these mini-flyers about the DTV transition in New Mexico.
(Before copying, lay out four mini-flyers on each side of a letter-size page.)

Front of mini-flyer		Back of mini-flyer

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