Community Forum on "The Transition to Digital Television" March 30, 2008

The Austin Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission and the City of Austin’s Office of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs will present a free community forum on "The Transition to Digital Television" from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30, 2008, at the Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, 808 Nile St.

Members of the community forum are invited to learn more about the digital TV (DTV) transition, and who will be affected by this technological advancement. This transition affects viewers with televisions that operate with roof-top antennas or "rabbit ears."

Speakers will discuss the basics of DTV and what residents without cable or satellite television will need to do to continue to receive free over-the-air television programming.

Effective Feb. 17, 2009, the U.S. Congress has mandated that all full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only. The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition.

Owners of analog televisions will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on those sets. To help consumers with the DTV transition, the federal government has established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program that will be discussed at the community forum.

Official Website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/2008/dtv_forum.htm