United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-06-10 monographic deposited born digital 23 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-881T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T P0b002ee18038f15b f:d08881t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T GAO-08-881T Broadcasting Cable television Consumer education Digital broadcasting Digital television Government information dissemination Satellite television Subsidies Technical assistance Technology assessment Technology transfer Television Television broadcasting Television equipment industry Digital Television Transition Coalition Testimony A82310 The Digital Television (DTV) Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, requires all full-power television station in the United States to cease analog broadcasting by February 17, 2009. Low-power stations are not required to cease analog transmissions and most will continue broadcasting in analog. Federal law also requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to subsidize consumers' purchases of digital-to-analog converter boxes. After the transition, households with analog sets that rely on over-the-air broadcasts must take action or they will lose television service, but some households might not be aware of this potential disruption. This testimony provides information on (1) technical and coordination issues facing full-power broadcast stations as they transition to digital, (2) issues pertaining to low-power broadcasting and how they affect consumers, and (3) the extent to which American households are aware of the DTV transition and likely to utilize the converter box subsidy program. GAO interviewed officials with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and NTIA and met with a wide variety of industry participants and other stakeholders. GAO conducted a Web-based survey of broadcasters to determine their status in transitioning to digital and issues they were encountering and commissioned a survey of the U.S. population on consumer awareness. This statement is based on GAO's body of work on the DTV transition. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T.pdf GAO-08-881T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-881T Testimony GAO-08-881T; Digital Television Transition: Broadcasters' Transition Status, Low-Power Station Issues, and Information on Consumer Awareness of the DTV Transition; Broadcasting Cable television Consumer education Digital broadcasting Digital television Government information dissemination Satellite television Subsidies Technical assistance Technology assessment Technology transfer Television Television broadcasting Television equipment industry Digital Television Transition Coalition