DTV Delay Act

On Feb 17, 2009, ~25% of TV stations ended analog broadcasts. The most populous places where many or all major-network stations are cutting analog this week include San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif.; La Crosse and Madison, Wis.; Rockford and Peoria, Ill.; Sioux City, Iowa; Waco, Texas; Macon, Ga.; Scranton, Pa.; Rhode Island and Vermont. In most cases, one station in each of those markets will continue sending analog signals until June or will offer a so-called "analog nightlight" for a few months, with limited local news and emergency broadcasts, as well as information about the digital TV transition.

The FCC says most calls about DTV problems were from viewers who were having reception or technical problems (problems receiving any channels, antenna problems, or weak or intermittent signals).

The Federal Communications Commission will now decide which stations can drop their analog broadcasts and when. See decisions released Feb 11 and a summary. On Feb 20, the FCC released its second order implementing the digital television transition delay bill. In a separate notice of proposed rulemaking the Commission proposes that no TV stations should cease analog broadcasts earlier than April 16. (see summary)

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration will soon implement provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for additional digital-to-analog converter box coupons and related activities, including up to $90 million for education and outreach (such as grants to organizations that will educate people at-risk of losing television service). That law also authorizes the issuance, on request, of one replacement coupon for each coupon that expired without being redeemed.

• The NTIA announced it will prioritize analog-only coupon requests