Low Power Television Stations, Translator Stations, and the Digital Television (DTV) Transition
Overview
While federal law mandates that all full-power television stations must cease to broadcast in analog after 11:59 p.m. on February 17, 2009, low power television stations (LPTV), including Class A television stations and television translator and booster stations are not covered by the law. While some of these low power stations may transition to digital, many will continue to broadcast in analog after the February 17, 2009 digital conversion deadline for full-power stations.
While the vast majority of viewers watch only full-power television broadcasting – all of which is going digital – some viewers watch low power broadcasting, which may remain in analog. Viewers who wish to continue watching low-power analog programming as well as new digital stations after the Feb. 17, 2009 digital transition for full-power stations will need specific equipment.
The best way to continue watching both analog and digital programming is with a new television set that has both analog and digital tuners. New television sets allow viewers to easily interchange between analog and digital programming.
Some converter boxes on the market that make digital programming viewable on older analog television sets will inconvenience those also wishing to watch low power analog programming. Other converter boxes have an "analog pass-through" option that enable viewers to continue watching analog programming when the box is turned off.
Many converter boxes currently on the market do not have the analog pass-through option. Viewers who wish to watch analog broadcasting but who purchase boxes without analog pass-through will need to purchase an antenna splitter device – these are available at many consumer electronic retailers, including Radio Shack stores. For instructions on how to connect a splitter device to your converter box and television set, click here.
How do I know if I watch low power stations?
Low power LPTV and Class A television stations are usually smaller stations. Some are community-owned and operated stations or stations broadcasting in international languages. Other low power stations can also be affiliates of smaller national TV networks like Univision, Telemundo, CW or other smaller national or religious broadcasting networks.
Low-power stations can also be translator or booster stations that extend a television station's signal to areas not reached by the main transmitter. Television signals can only reach so far, and geographical features – particularly mountains or hills and deep valleys – can make it impossible to broadcast a television signal across an entire television market from a single transmitter. In these cases, a station may use a translator or booster to reach areas that are out of range of the main station.
If you receive programming from an analog low power translator, the channel number that you receive will be different from that identified and branded by the station in its local news. For example, if a station refers to itself in local news or programming as "Channel 5" but you receive its programming on a different channel, you are likely receiving a signal from a low power translator.
For a full list of low power stations in each state, listed by community, click here.
Some low power stations may make the transition to digital on or before February 17, 2009. However, many will remain in analog. Therefore, after February 17, 2009 some viewers will receive signals from full or low power stations that switch to digital, and some from low power stations that remain in analog.
In these cases, viewers who receive TV signals from antennas will need converter boxes with the antenna pass-through option, or a converter box without the pass-through option but with an antenna splitter, or will need to purchase a new television set so they can continue to watch both analog and digital programming. Viewers who watch only low power stations need take no action.
For more information, please download our Low Power Issue Guide in PDF format.
Below are resources put together by the government on low power television (LPTV):
NTIA – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Low Power Resource guide, which includes a Q and A on low power television.
FCC – The Federal Communications Commission's resource guide on low power television.
Stations List – a map and list of low-power television stations by state.
