DTV Transition
By now you probably have heard and seen ads on TV and radio for the coming digital transition of broadcast television to a digital format as of February 17, 2009. Now comes word that the transition has been delayed by Congress until June 12, 2009 . If you haven't heard about it, let's take a few minutes to tell you how it works and more importantly, how it will affect you.
 

For the last decade Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have been setting and resetting deadlines for over-the-air transmission of analog television signals. That is, until last year when the two groups finally decided on a non-changeable date, which now has been changed to June 12, 2009 . The change involves local broadcast stations such as WLS-TV Channel 7 and WGN-TV Channel 9 sending out only a digital broadcast signal to viewers that have a clearer, sharper picture and improved stereo (and in some cases surround sound) audio. The digital signal also provides for HDTV, which provides widescreen viewing, and for secondary channels that carry news, weather and other information. Most stations have been broadcasting these digital signals for a year or two, but unless you have a TV with access to a digital or what's called an ATSC (Advanced Systems Television Committee) tuner, you will be unable to see these signals. And since analog broadcasting will cease on the deadline date, TVs that do not have this tuner will fall silent.

 
Does this mean that you will have to by a new TV set in order to watch your favorite programs? Well, not necessarily. If you subscribe to cable TV service and have a digital cable box, your analog TV will continue to work like it always has. Same thing if you subscribe to satellite TV and have an analog set or if you get basic cable attached directly to an analog TV - no change.
 
If you only get over-the-air TV broadcasts, you will either have to buy a TV that has a built-in digital ATSC tuner, or you will have to purchase a digital converter box to receive broadcasts. Currently the FCC is providing $40.00 vouchers towards the purchase of these converter boxes through March 31, 2009, which can be obtained at their website ( www.DTV2009.gov ) or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (  1-888-388-2009  ) , or at www.DTVanswers.com , although there is no word yet on how long the vouchers will be available. However, there will only be a limited number of vouchers available, so you should act soon, and the vouchers are only good for 90 days after they are issued . If you choose to buy a TV, DVD recorder or DVR (digital video recorder) with a digital tuner installed, it will have the letters ATSC or QAM ( Quadrature amplitude modulation , used to receive digital cable signals without a set-top box) or both printed on the case. Every TV sold in the U.S. that was manufactured after March 7, 2007 must have a digital tuner installed; however TVs made before that date may still be sold in stores, so ask a salesperson if you are not sure. By the way, your DVD player/recorder, VCR and DVR will still work and playback prerecorded discs, files and tapes, but if you use them for recording over-the air TV signals or basic cable signals without a cable box, you'll have to replace them with units that have digital tuners. The newer digital TVs are back compatible, so your old units will still work with them. Also, you may see ads that offer special HDTV-enhanced antennas for your TV. These items are only meant to extract more money from you; if you currently have a rooftop antenna or just rabbit ears, as long as you have a digital converter attached to it, you're all set.
 
Thanks
 
Ross Rowe
Cable Production Coordinator
EGTV Channel 6
Village of Elk Grove Village
901 Brantwood Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 357-4270