Background - The DTV Transition

The transition to digital television – DTV – is underway. A number of stations across the country have already ended their analog transmissions and switched to all digital broadcasts and others will soon follow. By June 12, 2009, all full power television stations in the U.S. will be broadcasting in digital only, requiring viewers to be prepared. A consumer has three options to be prepared: 1. get a digital to analog converter box to connect to an existing older analog set along with your antenna; 2. subscribe to cable, satellite, or other pay TV service; 3. have a digital television set with an antenna.

What is a Channel Scan?

Installing a converter box or setting up a DTV-ready television is only the first part of the process. After hooking up a converter box to your TV set or installing a new digital television, you will need to scan for new channels to ensure you receive all the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select “scan” manually.

Since digital stations are becoming available regularly, and existing digital stations may be changing channels or adding subchannels over time, you should rescan on a periodic basis to get all of the digital programming available.

How do I Perform a Channel Scan?

• Run the “scan” function on your converter box or digital television set, usually on the remote control, labeled “set-up” or “menu” or some similar term. Consult the owner’s manual for more detailed instructions on how to run a channel scan.

• Once the scan is complete, you should be receiving digital channels through your antenna.

Perform a channel scan periodically to check for new digital channels in your area.

If you run a channel scan and are still having difficulty, we recommend you use our dtv.gov tool at www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/ to see what stations you should be receiving in your area.

For More Information…

For more information about the DTV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or contact the FCC by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.

For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format
(electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print, or audio) please write or call us
at the address or phone number below, or send an e-mail to FCC504@fcc.gov.

To receive information on this and other FCC consumer topics through the Commission's
electronic subscriber service, visit www.fcc.gov/cgb/contacts/.

This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to
affect any proceeding or cases involving this subject matter or related issues.

09/17/09

	Federal Communications Commission · Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. · Washington, DC 20554
	1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)  ·  TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)  · Fax: 1-866-418-0232  · www.fcc.gov/cgb/