What Are the Laws Regarding DTV?

In 1996, Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could use it for digital broadcasting while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel.

Later, Congress mandated June 12, 2009 (extended from February 17, 2009) as the last day for full-power television stations in the U.S. to broadcast in analog. Before June 12, 2009, broadcast stations in all U.S. markets were transmitting in both analog and digital. After June 12, 2009, full-power television stations will transmit in digital only.



The June 12, 2009 DTV transition deadline does not apply to low-power television (LPTV) stations. The FCC will determine a deadline for these stations to transition to digital at a future date.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike, my GF bought me a converter box, but I might just let it all go and
live without TV. At least for a while, anyway. I've never had cable, never
paid for it, anyway.
If I get desperate, I can always watch the 'snow'.
More time to nail those riffs.

Who needs tv when you have Hulu?

Hi Mike: we've been switching the analog signal off in various parts of the UK for a while now, on a rolling scheme, including in an area where I spend half my time.

Certain problems for a small minority of people, usually solvable with a free dish or cable that the service provider must give in those circumstances. Apart from that, for the most part I like it. Some good advantages...

Cheers - C

Probably smart thinking by the officials over there. It's being reported that approx three million homes do not have a digital box or TV in the US yet!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I have had DishNetwork for years so this won't even effect me in any way.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

The news report I saw mentioned the area around where Katrina hit and some of the more northern mountain states would be most affected by not being "DTV Ready" so to speak.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Sounds about right.

There are Mountain areas in Calif. that the residents will be affected.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Comcast for me so it don't matter. We have talked about getting FIOS which has been in our neighborhood for about 1 1/2 years now. It looks likea good deal for TV, Phones, Internet for 99.00 but thats only for the first year I have to ask around and see what it goes to after that. They hook it up free to your TV's and Two computers, one wireless router, Phones, and a battery backup installed in basement. Then everything is digital.
I have even heard rumors that they may discontinue DSL around here so that you have to go all digital.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Sure am. I have HD service, Sony 46"XBR tv, bluray, Yamaha 7.1 receiver, KEF speakers, etc. It's amazing what divorce can do to your home theater system!!!

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

Hello Mike,

Well on June 12,2009 no more televion for me.

I purchased the converter box {2 different models} plus
a digital antenna. I'm dissappointed that about every few
minutes the picture dissappears to a blue screen with a
promt indicating "weak signal". Impossible to watch a program.
At least with analog I could get a substandard picture.

I see what friday brings.

Cheers.

Best wishes, Mr Bill, maybe things will be different for you on Friday when they pull that big FCC switch?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

We've been ready, I requested coupons for our one analog TV in the kitchen, and for my mother, and her elderly fiends last year. But, we have two HDTVs as well.

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Tony Houston

I'm using FiOS right now. The phone and internet service works fine. But, I still have problems with the televison service. It was really bad when I first had it. Both the internet and TV. I had them over almost every other week for a few months to fix the tiling and freezing picture on all channels... both televisions. Now, I get an intermittent interruption that makes the picture flip. After 2 years, I gave up on it.

I have my 2 Dtv boxes waiting in the wings. The TV in the bedroom is a small HD set, so I don't need one for that. I have the boxes because I've been out of work since October and I may have to give up cable. It's a luxury that I can no longer afford... along with the cell phones.

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"...The final truth is, there is no truth..." - (from "Nice n' Neat" by the Boomtown Rats)

You should already be using your converter box MiamiMike. The only channel I don't get is 6 which I never got anyway. Everything else works great and you even have some extra channels like channel 7 weather (just the map, no Julie Durda).

I'm using a regular antenna and I got my converter boxes with a coupon.

Look around because I think there are some local relief efforts. You might score a box for free.