Will ARCS be affected by the Digital Television Transition?

On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital.

However, since ARCS uses only low-power television (or LPTV) transmitters in its network, all ARCS viewers will be able to continue watching in analog. So, you will not need a converter box or a digital television receiver to watch ARCS over the air by the February 17, 2009 deadline. In the years that follow, that may change. Here’s what the FCC has to say about LPTV and the digital transition:

"While the February 17, 2009 deadline for ending analog broadcasts does not apply to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations, the FCC will require these stations to convert to digital broadcasting sometime thereafter... The FCC is currently considering the remaining issues involved with the low-power digital transition and will make decisions regarding these stations in the future."

You can see the entire text of the FCC's Consumer Advisory here.

What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program and why do you want one?

This is a program, created by Congress, which will allow households to get up to two coupons, each worth $40 for use in obtaining a box that will convert over-the-air digital television signals for viewing on an analog television set. While you won’t need a converter to watch ARCS in the near term, you can still take advantage of the coupon program, obtain your coupons, get your converters at the reduced cost, and then place them on the shelf for future use. In the coming years it is very likely that ARCS will convert to digital, but by then this coupon program will have ended. So, if you wait until ARCS goes digital to get your converter, you will have to pay for the whole thing yourself. You can get more information about the coupon program, apply on line, and locate vendors in your area, by visiting www.dtv2009.gov. Or, you can call the TV Converter Box Coupon Program Retailer Support Center at 866-296-1107.

The information on this page is specifically about over-the-air television. It does not concern satellite, cable or other pay-television services. If you watch ARCS over a cable television service, please consult your local cable provider for details about how they distribute ARCS in your community and any changes they may have planned.

Thanks for visiting www.arcstv.org, and thanks for watching ARCS.

Links for more information:

http://www.dtv.gov
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html