| Real Life Information... on Topics related to Everyday Life - DIGITAL TV TRANSITION |
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| DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION General Frequently Asked Questions |
What are low-power (LPTV), Class A, and TV translator stations and how
does the DTV transition affect them?
You may have noticed that Congress mandated that “full-power” TV
stations will not be able to broadcast in analog after June 12, 2009. While
the majority of the viewed TV broadcast stations are full-power stations,
three other categories of TV stations exist – “low-power” stations, “Class
A” stations, and “TV translator” stations. There is currently no deadline for
these stations to convert to digital broadcasting.
does the DTV transition affect them?
You may have noticed that Congress mandated that “full-power” TV
stations will not be able to broadcast in analog after June 12, 2009. While
the majority of the viewed TV broadcast stations are full-power stations,
three other categories of TV stations exist – “low-power” stations, “Class
A” stations, and “TV translator” stations. There is currently no deadline for
these stations to convert to digital broadcasting.
The FCC created low-power television (LPTV) service in 1982 to provide
opportunities for locally-oriented television service in small
communities. These communities may be in rural areas or may be
individual communities within larger urban areas. LPTV stations are
operated by diverse groups and organizations including high schools
and colleges, churches and religious groups, local governments, large
and small businesses and individual citizens. More than 2,100 licensed
LPTV stations are in operation. LPTV programming can include
satellite-delivered programming services, syndicated programs, movies,
and a wide range of locally-produced programs
opportunities for locally-oriented television service in small
communities. These communities may be in rural areas or may be
individual communities within larger urban areas. LPTV stations are
operated by diverse groups and organizations including high schools
and colleges, churches and religious groups, local governments, large
and small businesses and individual citizens. More than 2,100 licensed
LPTV stations are in operation. LPTV programming can include
satellite-delivered programming services, syndicated programs, movies,
and a wide range of locally-produced programs
Back to: Digital TV Transition General FAQs Overview
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Disclaimer
All information is provided as is. Additional research, information verification, and professional consultation should be done before using any
information provided on this site or any site linked to from this site. We make no guaranties as to accuracy, content, truthfulness, quality, or
fitness for a particular purpose of any of the information presented on this site. We do not assume any legal liability or responsibility for any
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All information is provided as is. Additional research, information verification, and professional consultation should be done before using any
information provided on this site or any site linked to from this site. We make no guaranties as to accuracy, content, truthfulness, quality, or
fitness for a particular purpose of any of the information presented on this site. We do not assume any legal liability or responsibility for any
incorrect, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Additionally, we do not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the contents,
offers and/or actions of any off site pages and/or web sites that are referenced in this site or are linked to from this site. All web pages
presented on this site are subject to copyright law protection, whether stated or implied - all rights reserved.
Class A TV stations are former LPTV stations that have certain interference protection
rights not available to LPTV stations. These stations are technically similar to LPTV
stations, but unlike LPTV stations must air at least three hours of locally-produced
programming each week and comply with most of the non-technical regulations
applicable to full-power stations. Approximately 600 licensed Class A TV stations are in
operation.
A TV translator station rebroadcasts the programs of a full-power TV broadcast station.
Translator stations typically serve communities that cannot receive the signals of free
over-the-air TV stations because they are too far away from a full-power TV station or
because of geography (such as uneven terrain or mountains). Many of the 4,700
licensed TV translator stations operate in mountainous or more remote areas of the
country.
There are several ways to determine whether the broadcast stations you view over-
the-air (with a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears” attached to your TV) are LPTV, Class A
or TV translator stations. Class A stations are required to visually or aurally identify
their stations with their community of license and call sign (that includes the suffix “-
CA” for Class A) at sign on, sign off, and on an hourly basis. LPTV stations also must
regularly identify their station call sign. When locally originating programming, they
must visually or aurally identify their call sign and community of license at sign on, sign
off, and hourly. LPTV call signs may consist of four letters followed by the suffix “-LP”
(for low power) or, alternatively, five characters beginning with the letters K or W
followed by two numbers (their operating channel) and two additional letters. Also,
some TV translators are identified by the full-power TV stations whose signals they
rebroadcast. Further, LPTV, Class A, and TV translator stations may regularly broadcast
information as to their status, and may include information regarding the DTV transition.
rights not available to LPTV stations. These stations are technically similar to LPTV
stations, but unlike LPTV stations must air at least three hours of locally-produced
programming each week and comply with most of the non-technical regulations
applicable to full-power stations. Approximately 600 licensed Class A TV stations are in
operation.
A TV translator station rebroadcasts the programs of a full-power TV broadcast station.
Translator stations typically serve communities that cannot receive the signals of free
over-the-air TV stations because they are too far away from a full-power TV station or
because of geography (such as uneven terrain or mountains). Many of the 4,700
licensed TV translator stations operate in mountainous or more remote areas of the
country.
There are several ways to determine whether the broadcast stations you view over-
the-air (with a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears” attached to your TV) are LPTV, Class A
or TV translator stations. Class A stations are required to visually or aurally identify
their stations with their community of license and call sign (that includes the suffix “-
CA” for Class A) at sign on, sign off, and on an hourly basis. LPTV stations also must
regularly identify their station call sign. When locally originating programming, they
must visually or aurally identify their call sign and community of license at sign on, sign
off, and hourly. LPTV call signs may consist of four letters followed by the suffix “-LP”
(for low power) or, alternatively, five characters beginning with the letters K or W
followed by two numbers (their operating channel) and two additional letters. Also,
some TV translators are identified by the full-power TV stations whose signals they
rebroadcast. Further, LPTV, Class A, and TV translator stations may regularly broadcast
information as to their status, and may include information regarding the DTV transition.
While the June 12, 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 some time
thereafter. Nearly 2,000 of these stations have been authorized to construct digital facilities and some are
broadcasting in digital already. 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.
If you have an analog-only television that receives free over-the-air programming (with a roof-top antenna
or “rabbit ears” on the TV), you will need to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box in order to watch
digital broadcast television. Each U.S. household is eligible to receive two $40 coupons to be used toward
the purchase of two digital-to-analog converter boxes. The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) is administering the coupon program. More information can be found at www.dtv2009.
gov, or by calling 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box to watch digital broadcasts on an analog TV and also wish
to continue watching analog LPTV, Class A, or TV translator stations, you should purchase a converter box
with “analog pass-through” capability, which allows analog broadcast signals to pass through the converter
box to be tuned by your analog TV. NTIA’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program has certified converter box
models that have analog pass-through capability. A current list of coupon-eligible converter boxes is
available at https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm. The converter box models that have analog pass-through
capability are noted on the list with an asterisk next to them. In addition, NTIA will mail a list of current
coupon-eligible converter boxes, noting with an asterisk those that have analog pass-through capability, to
each household that receives converter box coupons. You can also check with your retailer to determine
whether the converter box you are purchasing has analog pass-through capability.
If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box without analog pass-through capability, you may have to
connect an antenna switch or a signal “splitter” to bypass the box if you wish to view analog TV broadcasts.
Check with the manufacturer of the digital-to-analog converter box and your retailer if you need instructions
on how to connect the box to view broadcasts from both analog and digital stations.
Viewers should look for information from their LPTV, Class A, and TV translator stations about plans to
convert from analog to digital broadcasting
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