N IS HDTV THE SAME THING AS DTV? No. HDTV is the highest quality of DTV, but it is only one of several formats. In addition to HDTV, the most common format is Standard Definition Television (SDTV). DDIIGGIITTAALL Consumers who have high definition TV sets may receive free high definition television programming over the air using an antenna. TTEELLEEVVIISSIIOONN

INFORMATION WEBSITES TO HELP TTRRAANNSSIITTIIOONN WITH YOUR TRANSITION Websites Pertaining COMPLIMENTS OF IS COMING to DTV Transition: SENATOR IS COMING www.dtvanswers.com CHRISTINE M. TARTAGLIONE www.dtvtransition.org

www.dtv.gov Websites Pertaining to Antenna Usage: www.antennaweb.org DISTRICT OFFICES 1061 Bridge Street www.dtvtogo.com Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 533-0440 • Fax: (215) 560-2627 Websites Pertaining to Coupon Program: 127 West Susquehanna Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19122 www.ntia.doc.gov (215) 291-4653 • Fax: (215) 560-3260 Phone: Bilingual services available You May Need To Adjust Your Set Servicios bilingües disponibles 1-888-DTV-2009 HARRISBURG OFFICE Senate Box 203002 WILL YOU BE READY? Harrisburg, PA 17120-3002 (717) 787-5709 • Fax: (717) 787-4384 Senate of Pennsylvania: 1-800-364-1581 (TTY) COMPLIMENTS OF WEB SITE: www.senatortartaglione.com SENATOR CHRISTINE M. TARTAGLIONE

SDCO 3/08 DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION...ARE YOU READY?

N WHAT IS DIGITAL TELEVISION N WHAT IS A TV CONVERTER BOX? owner’s manual. If that’s not possible, you may TRANSITION? A TV converter box is a new product that be able to look up information about your TV Beginning February 17, 2009, all television plugs into your analog TV and, along with set on the manufacturer’s website. Or, you can stations will cease broadcasting in analog and your antenna, will keep your analog set take an up-close look at your TV set. In any will broadcast in digital only. working after February 17, 2009. A TV case, you’re tryi ng to find out if your set has an Digital broadcasting promises to provide a converter box is a one-time purchase and input connection labeled digita l input or ATSC clearer picture and more programming should cost between $50 and $70. (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is the DTV format). options. Another important benefit of the N WHAT IS THE TV CONVERTER BOX switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it COUPON PROGRAM? N GENERAL GUIDELINES THAT MAY HELP: will free up parts of the valuable broadcast Congress created the TV Converter Box • If you bought your TV set before 1998, it spectrum for public safety communications Coupon Program for households that want to probably doesn’t have a digital tuner. (police, fire departments, and rescue squads). keep using their analog TV sets after Almost every TV set made before 1998 The digital television transition is also called February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. was a traditional analog set. analog-to-digital conversion . households to obtain up to two coupons, each • If you bought a big-screen, projection TV N WILL MY TELEVISION WORK AFTER worth $40 that can be applied toward the cost between 1998 and 2004, it may have a FEBRUARY 17, 2009? of converter boxes. built-in digital tuner inside. But chances Analog television will not receive an over- N HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN ANALOG aren’t great. Only a limited percentage of the-air signal after February 17, 2009. OR A DIGITAL TV? projection TV sets (and generally only Television viewers with these sets will need What you need to know is whether your TV those 42 inches in diameter o r larger) to take action before that date to ensure their set has something called a digital tuner already included digital tuners before 2004. TV sets continue to work. built in. If it does, your TV set will work after • If you purchased a new TV set since N WHAT IS ANALOG TELEVISION? February 17, 2009. 2004, your chances of having a built-in You are probably viewing analog TV if your The best way to determine whether your TV digital tuner improve dramatically. set is older, is labeled analog or NTSC and is set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold not labeled as containing a digital tuner. at popular electronics stores feature digital tuners that will work after N WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS SO I CAN HOW TO GET YOUR February 17, 2009. But it’s not a sure CONTINUE TO GET TV AFTER thing. Even some of the newer TV sets FEBRUARY 17, 2009? COUPONS are purely display monitors that lack the As a consumer, you have a few options. You Consumers can apply for up to two internal circuitry needed to pick up may: $40 coupons per household. digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have • Keep your existing analog TV and 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) been advertised as HD-ready or HDTV purchase a TV converter box. A monitor sets. That means they can converter box plugs into your TV and www.dtv2009.gov display digital and high-definition will keep it working after February 17, Mail the application to: signals, but they need help getting those 2009. PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000 signals in the first place. You’ll still need • Connect to cable, satellite or other pay a special converter or a cable TV service. Coupons will be mailed to requesters connection. • Purchase a television with a digital tuner. on a first-come-first-served basis.