The Commission adopted on February 19, 2008, a Report and Order, In the Matter DTV Consumer Education Initiative, MB Docket 07-148, FCC 08-56. As the Nation transitions from analog broadcast television service to digital broadcast television service, the Commission has been committed to working with representatives from industry, public interest groups, and Congress to make the significant benefits of digital broadcasting available to the public. The digital transition will make valuable spectrum available for both public safety uses and expanded wireless competition and innovation. By compressing television broadcasting into a smaller amount of the available spectrum, the digital transition has allowed the Commission to make valuable 700 MHz spectrum available for sale and use by wireless companies and public safety organizations. The transition will also provide consumers with better quality television picture and sound, and make new services available through multicasting. These innovations, however, are dependent upon widespread consumer understanding of the benefits and mechanics of the transition. The Congressional decision to establish a hard deadline of February 17, 2009, for the end of full-power analog broadcasting has made consumer awareness even more critical. Therefore, the information collection requirements contained in FCC 08-56 are necessary to ensure that the American public is adequately prepared for the digital transition.
Congress has established February 17, 2009 as the deadline for the transition from analog to digital television service. After that date full power television stations will not be permitted to broadcast an analog television signal. Consequently, people with analog-only televisions will not be able to receive an over-the-air broadcast signal unless they purchase a digital TV or digital-to-analog converter box or subscribe to a pay TV service. In light of this transition, the Commission anticipates adoption of a number of requirements, chiefly that television broadcasters must air public service announcements describing the digital television transition and explaining to viewers how the transition will affect them and what they must do to be prepared. These requirements were suggested in a letter from the Honorable John D. Dingell, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Honorable Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to the requirement to air transition education information, all full power television stations are also required to report quarterly on these and other consumer education actions so that the Commission can track these activities and ensure compliance.
The Commission is also requiring multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to provide monthly notices about the DTV transition in their customer billing statements. Manufacturers of television receivers and related devices will be required to provide notice to consumers of the transitions impact on that equipment. Partners in the Commissions www.DTV.gov website must provide the Commission with quarterly updates on their consumer education efforts. Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that receive federal universal service funds must provide monthly notices of the transition to their low income customers, and in their advertisements to potential customers. Winners of the 700 MHz spectrum auction must report their consumer education efforts quarterly. Lastly, commercial and noncommercial education TV broadcast stations must retain in their public inspection files and also post on their public websites a copy of their DTV Consumer Education Quarterly Activity Report, FCC Form 388, on a quarterly basis. The Commission found that all of these requirements are necessary to ensure that the American public is adequately prepared for the digital transition, but that they will no longer be necessary after the transition is fully complete in 2009. Therefore, these requirements will be in place for a limited time only.
This is a new information collection which adds a total annual burden of 156,069 hours.
$0
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Evan Baranoff 202 418-7142 evan.baranoff@fcc.gov
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Emergency Letter DTV ED (031208).doc
FCC Form 388 (2008).pdf
DTV Consumer Education Initiative