On June 12, 2009, all full-power television stations will switch from the analog method of transmitting TV signals to only broadcasting a digital signal that cannot be received by analog TV sets. If you currently use "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna to get reception on your television, then you need to take some action to continue receiving television broadcasts once the switch to digital is complete. You will need to do one of the following:

• Buy a digital TV converter box
• Buy a TV with a digital tuner or
• Purchase pay TV service (cable or satellite TV) for your analog TV(s)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA) have been directed to provide information to consumers about the DTV transition. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) also has developed helpful materials to guide consumers through this transition.

How to set up your digital converter box

• Instructions on how to set up your converter box (NAB) (pdf)
  
• Instructions on how to set up your converter box (NAB) (video)
• For instructions in more languages , see the FCC website

If you have having trouble setting up your box, please contact your converter box manufacturer’s technical support line. The City and County of San Francisco does not provide technical support.

Local Digital TV Assistance Centers

The following local nonprofits are offering assistance in the DTV transition:

• Self-Help for the Elderly
  407 Sansome Street, San Francisco
  415-677-7600
• Southeast Asian Community Center (SEACC)
• Media Alliance: Oakland Digital TV Assistance Center
  1431 23rd Avenue
  Oakland, CA
  510-533-7266

For more information

The FCC provides the following flyers with information about what you can do to prepare for the switch to Digital TV:

• DTV Transition Flyer (English) (PDF)
• DTV Transition Flyer En Español (Spanish) (PDF) [http://www.dtv.gov/DTVOne-Pager_sp.pdf]
• DTV Transition Flyer (Chinese) (PDF) [http://www.dtv.gov/DTVOne-Pager_chinese.pdf] DTV
• Transition Flyer (Vietnamese) (PDF) [http://www.dtv.gov/DTVOne-Pager_vietnamese.pdf] DTV
• Transition Flyer (Russian) (PDF) [http://www.dtv.gov/DTVOne-Pager_russian.pdf]
• More languages [http://www.dtv.gov/publications.html]

The following websites also have useful information about the DTV transition

• FCC: http://www.dtv.gov
• NTIA: http://www.dtv2009.gov
• NAB: http://www.dtvanswers.com
• Consumer Electronics Association (CEA): http://www.digitaltips.org

By phone: Call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY) (in English and Spanish only). For other languages, San Francisco residents can call 3-1-1 [http://www.sfgov.org/311] for basic information about the Digital TV transition or contact the local assistance centers above.