DTV FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What's the deal with the coupons?

2. Do I need to worry if I already use cable or satellite?

3. How does this affect me if I live in a rural area or a place with poor reception?

4. Will I need to buy a new antenna?

5. What if I have other questions?

What's the deal with the coupons?

Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed and can only be used on eligible models (basic converters) at eligible retailers. Currently Best Buy, Radio Shack, Circuit City and Wal-Mart are selling eligible converter boxes. You may want to call to check that local stores have adequate stocks of converters before you order your coupons. You can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009 or until supplies run out. You can locate retailers near you here: https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx

Do I need to worry if I already use cable or satellite?

If your TV is connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, you won't need a TV converter box from this program. You should, however, check with your provider on their plans, as some providers may move some or all of their programming to a digital tier (which could cost you more money in monthly fees).

How does this affect me if I live in a rural area or a place with poor reception?

Translator and low-power television stations are not required to go all-digital after February 17, 2009. Viewers of these broadcast stations should contact their station for details. As these stations go digital, consumers will need to take action to continue to receive their free TV with an antenna and may want to consider applying for TV converter box coupons.

Will I need to buy a new antenna?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that anyone owning an antenna that is capable of receiving analog signals should be able to use that same antenna to receive digital signals. So you should probably try to use your old antenna before buying a new one. However, some stations will be moving to a different channel in a different frequency band that may require a different antenna type from the one you may now have. For example, some channels in the "VHF band" (Channels 2-13) may be moving to the "UHF band" (Channels 14-51) and vice versa. Here's a tool we found that will help you figure out what type of antenna you need: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx
 

What if I have other questions?

If you have more questions, check out https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx or call 1-888-DTV-2009.