KDSM FOX 17 FAQs

Congress recently passed legislation changing the date for the termination of analog broadcasts of over-the-air television from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. This legislation, however, does NOT mandate that television stations continue broadcasting in analog until that date, but instead allows stations to terminate such broadcasts early in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications System (the "FCC").

For the past year, television stations, including this station, have notified viewers of the February 17, 2009 analog shutoff date through on-air announcements, informational crawls, full-length programs, and their website. As a result, in order to avoid additional confusion due to the date change and as permitted by the recently enacted legislation, this station has notified the FCC that we would like to cease analog operations on February 17, 2009, as originally planned, and the FCC has consented to this station's plans for early termination. As required by the FCC, we are currently airing announcements throughout the day to inform our viewers that we will terminate analog broadcasting on effective at 11:59PM on February 17.

Viewers will still be able to see this station's programming over-the-air as a result of our continuing to broadcast our digital signal. Viewers who rely on over-the-air antennas for reception will need a digital television with a digital receiver; or, if they have analog televisions, they will need a digital-to-analog converter box to receive television programming. Viewers who receive this station via cable or satellite should see no change or disruption to their service. Additional information about the digital transition, including the government's converter box coupon program, is available on this web site or by visiting www.dtv.gov.

The FCC has a newly revised DTV website. Consumers may go to www.dtv.gov to learn about DTV, check the status of their coupon application, and find helpful publications such as a troubleshooting guide that provides a converter box hook-up checklist and a guide that offers tips on the reception of digital signals.
The newly revised website also offers DTV reception maps for your neighborhood.

Digital Television (DTV) Transition:

On June 12, 2009, federal law requires that all full-power U.S. broadcast stations must switch from analog television broadcasting to digital television broadcasting.

· Provides future interactive video and data services for the TV of the future.

If you currently rely on rabbit ears or a roof top antenna and have an analog television, after June 12, 2009, you will no longer be able to receive television programming.

1. Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog in order to be transmitted digitally through your analog television (see the TV Converter Box Coupon Program below).

3. Subscribe to a cable or satellite provider which will allow your analog TV to continue to function.

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), a federal agency, will start “The TV Converter Box Coupon Program” in January 2008.

· Each household may apply for two coupons, each worth $40 (coupon-eligible converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 - $70 and will be available at electronics stores and online retailers).

· Consumers can apply to the NTIA through www.dtv.gov, toll free (888) 388-2009 or by mail.

· Coupons will be available on a first come, first serve basis, and distribution will start in early spring of 2008. This will include retail information where converter boxes are available for purchase within a five mile radius of recipients’ homes.

The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress mandated that June 12, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. After June 12, 2009, full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only.

Analog TV: Analog technology has been in use for the past 50 years to transmit conventional TV signals to consumers. Most current television transmissions are received through analog television sets. Analog signals vary continuously, creating fluctuations in color and brightness.

Digital Television (DTV): Digital TV is a new type of broadcasting technology that will transform television. Because DTV is delivered digitally, the television signal is virtually free of interference. And because DTV is more efficient than analog, broadcasters are able to offer television with improved quality pictures and surround sound. DTV will soon replace today’s analog television.

What you need to know is whether your TV set has something called a "digital tuner" already built in. If it does, your TV set is already configured to receive and display the new digital over-the-air TV signals that will be transmitted in February 2009. To check whether your TV set can receive over-the-air digital broadcast signals, take a look at your owner’s manual or look on the set for an indication that it has "digital input" or "ATSC" (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is developing the DTV format). You can also go to the manufacturer’s website and check the capabilities of the set by the manufacturer model number.

If your television set is labeled as “analog” or “NTSC,” and is NOT labeled as containing a digital tuner, it contains an analog tuner only. You will need a converter.

If you use “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna for TV reception, you probably need a converter. Television sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service do not require converters. Televisions with digital tuners also do not need converters. Take a short quiz at the DTV Transition Web site to see whether the converter box is the right option for your household to make the digital transition. www.dtv.transition.org/index

Why does my DTV converter box work on other digital channels, but it shows no signal on channels 17.1 and 17.2?

Some digital converter boxes need to be tuned to channel 16 first and then they will find channels17.1 and 17.2.