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The U.S. Congress has mandated that at midnight on Feb. 17,
2009, all transmission of analog TV signals will stop and
only digital signals will be transmitted.
The change will free up broadcast frequencies for public safety
communications, such as emergency rescue, and will allow stations
to offer improved picture and sound quality, according to
the Federal Communications Commission.
An analog signal is the transmission of data as a radio wave
vibration in the air. A digital signal breaks the data into
a string of 0s and 1s that is sent to the television via satellite,
cable or a digitally converted antenna signal. A digital signal
is not as susceptible to interference and allows for a larger
volume of data.
Most TV stations are already transmitting both analog and
digital signals. So-called low power television (LPTV) stations,
which transmit weaker signals reaching small communities,
are exempt.
Analog to digital
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The radio waves that carry a television signal are part
of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes light
and radiation. |
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Transmission of digital
signals takes up a smaller range of the broadcasting spectrum
than conventional analog transmission. The U.S. government has
auctioned off those parts of the spectrum that will no longer
be in use.
Most of the freed-up airwaves will be used commercially for
expansion of wireless and broadband services, while a smaller
portion will be used by emergency response personnel. The
revenue from the auctions is an estimated $19 billion.
The cost of the transition for the typical TV station is
around $500,000 for new equipment. Broadcasters hope to increase
viewership with expanded services and high-definition picture
quality.
Consumers can expect more channels to chose from, a clearer
picture and the introduction of services such as interactive
shopping, but consumer rights groups also point to a number
of problems.
Not everyone is digital-ready
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Older televisions that use antennae to pick up a signal
will not receive digital signals without a converter. |
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The U.S. Congress established
a timetable for the transition to digital television (DTV) in
1996, but a January 2008 poll by the Consumer Reports National
Research Center found that more than one third (36%) of Americans
did not know about the upcoming switch to DTV.
According to media research provider Nielsen Company, 10%
of U.S. households are not ready for the digital switch.
These numbers indicate that many people are digital-ready,
but don't know they are. TV sets connected to a cable or satellite
system do not need upgraded. There is concern among consumer
advocates that people will buy equipment they don't need or
sign up for a cable service because they are unaware of other
options.
There are about 13 million households in the U.S. that get
TV broadcasts exclusively over the air on analog sets, and
another 6 million households that have a least one TV set
receiving programming over the air on analog TV stations.
Hispanic households make up the majority of these households,
which means they will be most affected by the transition to
DTV.
According to the Nielsen study, at 17.3%, Hispanic households
also make up the largest percentage of those not digital-ready,
compared to 8.8% of white households.
A recent study from market research firm Centris has also
suggested that nearly 6 million viewers may get limited reception
after the transition, due to gaps in digital broadcasting.
Picking up a weak analog signal still allows for some reception,
while poor digital reception will lead the broadcast to freeze,
fragment or go blank altogether.
Privacy concerns
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Republican Federal Communications Commission Chairman
Kevin Martin is in charge of the transition to digital. |
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There is also concern
about consumer privacy. Digital transmission and interactive
services will allow for tracking of consumer habits, similar
to how companies track behavior on the Internet.
Marketers will be able to collect consumer data, especially
through interactive services, enabling them to tailor advertisements
to consumers. Consumer advocates fear that viewer data and
habits will not only be tracked, but sold and combined with
data compiled elsewhere, allowing for the creation of detailed
profiles.
Consumer advocates have criticized the federal government
for not spending nearly enough money on public education,
and instead leaving the information campaign largely up to
broadcasters, manufacturers, and cable and satellite companies,
some of whom might try to use consumers' lack of information
to their advantage.
Help for consumers
The U.S. government has
set up a Web site to inform consumers (http://www.dtv2009.gov).
For consumers who rely exclusively on analog broadcast via an
antenna, the federal government is giving away coupons for the
purchase of a digital converter box which can be ordered online
or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009. Each consumer is entitled to two
coupons. The coupons expire 90 days after being issued.
Viewers with new TV sets equipped with digital tuners, or
viewers whose TV sets are connected to cable or satellite
services will not need these converter boxes, nor will they
have to buy any other equipment.
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Like many Californians, I live in a town where teenagers drive to school in gas-guzzling SUVs and pick-up trucks just because they want to look powerful and extravagant.
