WHYY so much worry
over digital?

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Despite the fact that television viewers who use rabbit ears or rooftop antennas will see nothing but snow come Feb. 18, 2009, there’s no need to fear.
It won’t be due to an alien invasion and there won’t be a little blond girl standing in front of the hissing set saying, “They’re ba-ack.”
The reason for the loss of picture is that’s the day – just over a year from now — that the Federal Communications Commission’s order for broadcast stations to switch from analog signals over the airwaves to digital signals takes effect.
With analog technology, an audio or video signal is transferred into electronic pulses. Digital technology, on the other hand, takes the same signal and translates it into binary code.
Bill Weber, WHYY chief technology officer, explained the efficiency of the digital technology.
It’s like suddenly turning a two-lane highway into a four-lane highway. More channels can be broadcast over the same bandwidth, he said.
Locally, both WHYY TV12 and WPVI Channel 6 each broadcast three digital channels. In addition to a digital broadcast of TV12, WHYY broadcasts an arts and culture channel, as well as one geared toward folks age 50 and older. WPVI broadcasts Channel 6, a public affairs channel and a weather channel digitally.
According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), once the DTV transition is complete, some television channels will be turned over to fire and police departments for emergency communication and others will be auctioned to companies to provide new wireless services.
The transition to digital doesn’t have to be scary for the 13.5 million households the Nielsen Company estimates will be affected.
That was the message of an informational seminar on the topic sponsored by WHYY and the Mayor’s Commission on Technology.
The transition to digital doesn’t mean you have to run out and buy an expensive new television set.
According to Comcast spokesman Gabriel Weissman, Comcast customers won’t be affected at all by the transition. There’s no need for a new converter or cable box.
“Customers channel lineups and bills will remain the same after the transition,” Weissman said.
Though you can purchase a new television equipped with a digital tuner, all your old TV needs is a digital converter box that will translate the digital signal for your analog set.
To help subsidize the cost of the shift from analog to digital television, NTIA will administer a TV Converter Box Coupon Program.
Every U.S. household may request up to two, free $40 coupons, which resemble plastic gift cards. They’ll be mailed to households beginning late this month, in the order applications were received. The coupon cards can be used to help pay for certified TV converter boxes, expected to retail for between $50 and $70.
To apply, you can call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). For Text telephone (TTY) in English, call 1-877-530-2634; in Spanish, call 1-866-495-1161 or online at www.DTV2009.gov
Each coupon must be used within 90 days and can be applied to the purchase of one certified converter box, available at local retailers. The coupons must be used at the time of purchase, and are not redeemable for cash or any other purchase.
The Mayor’s Commission on Technology (MCOT) is working to make the transition as smooth as possible for Philadelphians, according to executive director Carole Smith.
Toward that end, it will provide train-the-trainer workshops in each councilmanic district and educational sessions with sample converter box demonstrations in libraries across the city, for the public, as well as those who work with senior citizens, non-English-speakers, and those with disabilities.
Fearing that some of the above groups might be vulnerable to scams or con artists, coordinating agencies especially want to make sure that folks understand that there is no charge for the coupons and no one will ask for their Social Security numbers. The only identifying information required for the coupon is name, address and number of converter boxes requested.
The first training session will be held in City Council President Anna Verna’s South Philadelphia-based 2nd district during the first week in April, in conjunction with the national kick-off, Smith said.
The next batch of sessions will be scheduled in the council districts of those who, along with Verna, sent representatives to the WHYY/MCOT seminar — Councilmen Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) and Frank Rizzo (R-at large), and Councilwoman Marian Tasco (D-9th dist.)
Once dates and venues are scheduled, the information will be available on the MCOT Web site http://mcot.phila.gov
For more information about the transition, call 1-888-CALL-FCC (voice) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY- text telephone).
You can also call the WHYY Technology Services help line regarding the digital television transition, reception or technical setup, at 215-351-1270, or e-mail dtv@whyy.org
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com

Glossary of terms:

Analog TV -The technology that has been used for the past 50 years to transmit conventional TV signals to consumers. Analog signals vary continuously, creating fluctuations in color and brightness.
Digital Television (DTV) - The umbrella term encompassing High Definition Television and several other applications, including Standard Definition Television, datacasting, multicasting and interactivity.
High-definition TV (HDTV or HD) - The highest quality level of digital television, with clear, sharp, colorful images and surround sound in a wide screen (16 x 9) movie-like format. You need an HD TV set to see the full effect, but you can receive HD on an analog TV set with a converter box. With a digital TV, you can check your onscreen menu to tell what quality level you are receiving.
Standard Definition TV Format (SDTV) - This is the lower-quality level of digital broadcasting, though it still produces markedly better images than those of traditional analog TV. SDTV’s quality level is somewhat akin to current digital cable pictures, though its images are not nearly as sharp as those of HDTV. Transmission of SDTV may be in either the traditional (4x3) or widescreen (16x9) format.
Set-top Converter Box - This is a unit that connects to an analog TV, receives the Digital TV signal and converts it to an analog signal that the TV can display.
Source: www.whyy.org
Other resources can be found at:
www.dtv.gov
www.dtv2009.gov
www.dtvanswers.org