Goto Section: 73.673 | 73.681 | Table of Contents
FCC 73.674
Revised as of October 1, 2011
Goto Year:2010 |
2012
§ 73.674 Digital television transition notices by broadcasters.
(a) Each full-power commercial and noncommercial educational television
broadcast station licensee or permittee must air an educational
campaign about the transition from analog broadcasting to digital
television (DTV). For each such commercial station, a licensee or
permittee must elect by March 27, 2008, to comply with either paragraph
(c) or (d) of this section. For each such noncommercial station, a
licensee or permittee must elect, by March 27, 2008, to comply with
paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of this section. A licensee or permittee
must note their election via the filing of Form 388 as required by
§ § 73.3526 and 73.3527.
(b) The following requirements apply to paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of
this section:
(1) The station must comply with the requirements of the paragraph it
elects with respect to its analog channel and its primary digital
stream.
(2) Any Public Service Announcement aired to comply with these
requirements must be closed-captioned, notwithstanding § 79.1(d)(6) of
this chapter.
(3) The campaign must begin no later than March 27, 2008, and continue
at least through the station's termination of analog service, not later
than June 12, 2009, except for stations subject to the provisions of
paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(4) Any station that has filed a request for an extension of the
deadline for construction of its full, authorized post-transition
digital facility, including a request for phased transition pursuant to
the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order in MB Docket 07-91, or is
operating under such an extension, must continue its DTV consumer
education campaign until the station completes construction of its
full, authorized post-transition digital facility. After the station
terminates analog service, it must continue to comply with the
requirements of the Consumer Education Campaign Option that it has
elected, except that the content of all on-air education must be
revised to provide information about the station's limited digital
service area and the anticipated date for it to complete construction
and commence operation of its full, authorized post-transition digital
facility.
(5) Service loss notices --Beginning April 1, 2009, if the FCC's Signal
Loss Report, available on http://www.dtv.gov, predicts that 2 percent
or more of the population in a station's Grade B analog service contour
will not receive the station's digital signal, the station must air
service loss notices, as provided in this paragraph.
(i) Service loss notices may be no fewer than 30 seconds long, and must
be aired at least once per day, between 8 a.m. and 11:35 p.m. At least
three service loss notices per week must air between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
in the Atlantic, Eastern and Pacific time zones, and between 7 p.m. and
10 p.m. in the Mountain, Central, and Alaskan time zones.
(ii) Service loss notices are in addition to the other obligations
imposed by this section.
(iii) The service loss notices must include the FCC's Call Center
number, 1-888-CALL-FCC, the FCC's TTY number, 1-888-TELL-FCC, and the
Web site address for the FCC's online digital reception mapping tool,
http://www.DTV.gov/maps.
(iv) The station must post service loss information on its Web site
home page, including a link to the relevant coverage change maps on
http://www.DTV.gov and the FCC's online digital reception mapping tool,
http://www.DTV.gov/maps. This information must remain available on the
station's Web site home page for at least 30 days after the station
terminates its analog service, notwithstanding the termination of other
consumer education requirements.
(v) The loss areas disclosed in the service loss notices must be based
on the FCC's Signal Loss Report.
(vi) Service loss notices must disclose that some current viewers of
the station's analog signal are predicted to experience a loss of
service and describe the discrete geographic areas where there is
likely to be a service loss.
(vii) If any predicted service loss is attributable to a change in the
station's frequency from VHF to UHF, and the predicted losses cannot
entirely be described with respect to discrete geographic areas, the
station must, at a minimum, disclose that some analog viewers located
in areas obstructed by hills or buildings are predicted to be unable to
receive the station's digital signal. This is in addition to, and not
in lieu of, descriptions of any discrete geographic areas where there
is likely to be a service loss.
(6) Antenna information notices --Beginning April 1, 2009, all stations
must include information about the use of antennas as part of their
consumer education campaign, as provided in this paragraph.
(i) The antenna information notices should provide information about
the types of antennas that their viewers may need, and how to install
them.
(ii) Stations that have changed or are changing the frequency band in
which they broadcast must inform their viewers of the change in
frequencies and explain how the change affects the antenna they need to
receive their signal.
(iii) Stations that are predicted by the FCC's Signal Loss Report to
have any loss of viewers should consider whether their viewers can
improve their ability to receive their signal by obtaining a different
or better antenna, and if so, provide information concerning such
antennas.
(iv) Antenna information notices must be no fewer than 15 seconds long,
and must be aired at least once per day, between 8 a.m. and 11:35 p.m.
At least three antenna information notices per week must air between 8
p.m. and 11 p.m. in the Atlantic, Eastern and Pacific time zones, and
between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Mountain, Central, and Alaskan time
zones.
(v) Antenna information notices may be included as part of a station's
DTV Consumer Education Initiative efforts, or may be discussed for at
least 15 seconds during news programs, or broadcast in other ways that
the station determines will be most helpful to consumers.
(vi) Notwithstanding the content requirements of paragraph (c) of this
section, a licensee or permittee electing compliance with paragraph (c)
of this section may replace up to 25 percent of their daily PSAs and
crawls with antenna notices.
(7) Rescanning notices --Beginning April 1, 2009, all stations must
include information in their consumer education campaigns to inform and
remind viewers about the importance of periodically using the rescan
function of their digital televisions and digital converter boxes, as
provided in this paragraph.
(i) Rescanning notices should explain why rescanning is important in
general and, in particular, if the station is changing channels or
signal direction.
(ii) Rescanning notices must be no fewer than 15 seconds long, and must
be aired at least once per day, between 8 a.m. and 11:35 p.m. At least
three rescanning notices per week must air between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
in the Atlantic, Eastern and Pacific time zones, and between 7 p.m. and
10 p.m. in the Mountain, Central, and Alaskan time zones.
(iii) Rescanning notices may be included as part of a station's DTV
Consumer Education Initiative efforts, or may be discussed for at least
15 seconds during news programs, or broadcast in other ways that the
station determines will be most helpful to consumers.
(iv) Notwithstanding the content requirements of paragraph (c) of this
section, a licensee or permittee electing compliance with paragraph (c)
of this section may replace up to 25 percent of their daily PSAs and
crawls with rescanning notices.
(8) Help center notices --Beginning April 1, 2009, as part of its DTV
consumer education campaign, every station must air notices providing
the location and operating hours of walk-in DTV help centers in the
station's market area; the FCC Call Center telephone number and TTY
number; and the station's telephone number for receiving consumer
referrals and calls from local viewers, as provided in this paragraph.
(i) Help center notices must be no fewer than 15 seconds long, and must
be aired at least once per day, between 8 a.m. and 11:35 p.m. At least
three help center notices per week must air between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
in the Atlantic, Eastern and Pacific time zones, and between 7 p.m. and
10 p.m. in the Mountain, Central, and Alaskan time zones.
(ii) Help center notices may be included as part of a station's DTV
Consumer Education Initiative efforts, or may be discussed for at least
15 seconds during news programs, or broadcast in other ways that the
station determines will be most helpful to consumers.
(iii) Notwithstanding the content requirements of paragraph (c) of this
section, a licensee or permittee electing compliance with paragraph (c)
of this section may replace up to 25 percent of its daily PSAs and
crawls with help center notices.
(c) Consumer Education Campaign Option One:
(1) From March 27, 2008 through the station's termination of analog
service or, for stations subject to the provisions of paragraph (b)(4)
of this section, until the station completes construction of its full,
authorized post-transition digital facility, a licensee or permittee
must, at a minimum, air one transition-related public service
announcement (PSA), and one transition-related informative text crawl,
in every quarter of every broadcast day. This minimum will increase to
two of each, per quarter, from April 1, 2008 through September 30,
2008, and to three of each, per quarter, from October 1, 2008 through
the conclusion of the campaign. At least one PSA and one informative
text crawl per day must be aired between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. in the
Atlantic, Eastern and Pacific time zones, and between 7 p.m. and 10
p.m. in the Mountain, Central, and Alaskan time zones.
(2) For the purposes of this section, each broadcast day consists of
four quarters; 6:01 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:01 p.m. to 6 p.m., 6:01 p.m. to
12 a.m., and 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m.
(3) Informative text crawls must:
(i) Air during programming;
(ii) Air for no fewer than 60 consecutive seconds;
(iii) Be displayed so that the text travels across the bottom or top of
the viewing area at the same speed used for other informative text
crawls concerning news, sports, and entertainment information;
(iv) Be presented in the same language as a majority of the programming
carried by the station;
(v) Be displayed so that they do not block and are not blocked by
closed-captioning or emergency information; and
(vi) Contain at least the following information, but may contain more,
provided they contain no misleading or inaccurate statements:
(A) The nationwide switch to digital television broadcasting will be
complete on June 12, 2009, but your local television stations may
switch sooner. After the switch, analog-only television sets that
receive TV programming through an antenna will need a converter box to
continue to receive over-the-air TV. Watch your local stations to find
out when they will turn off their analog signal and switch to
digital-only broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as
before to receive low power, Class A or translator television stations
and with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD
players, and similar products.
(B) More information is available by phone and online, and provide
appropriate contact information, including means of contacting the
station or the network.
(4) Public service announcements must have a duration of no fewer than
15 consecutive seconds, and contain, at a minimum, the information
described in paragraph (c)(3)(vi) of this section. They must also
address the following topics at least once each during every calendar
week:
(i) The steps necessary for an over-the-air viewer or a subscriber to a
multichannel video programming distributor to continue viewing the
station after the transition;
(ii) The channel on which the station can be viewed after the
transition;
(iii) Whether the station will be providing multiple streams of free
video programming during or after the transition;
(iv) Whether the station will be providing a High Definition signal
during or after the transition;
(v) The exact date and time that the station will cease analog
broadcasting; and
(vi) The exact date and time that the station will begin digital
broadcasting on its post-transition channel, if it has not already done
so.
(d) Consumer Education Campaign Option Two:
(1) A licensee or permittee must, at a minimum, air an average of
sixteen (16) transition-related PSAs per week, and an average of
sixteen (16) transition-related crawls, snipes, and/or tickers per
week, over a calendar quarter.
(2) For the purposes of calculating the average number of PSAs aired, a
30-second PSA qualifies as a single PSA, and two 15-second PSAs count
as a single PSA.
(3) PSAs, crawls, snipes, and/or tickers aired between the hours of 1
a.m. and 5 a.m. do not conform to the requirements of this section and
will not count toward calculating the average number of
transition-related education pieces aired.
(4) Over the course of each calendar quarter, 25 percent of all PSAs,
and 25 percent of all crawls, snipes, and/or tickers, must air between
6 p.m. and 11:35 p.m. (Atlantic, Eastern and Pacific time zones) or
between 5 p.m. and 10:35 p.m. (Mountain, Central, and Alaskan time
zones).
(5) Stations must air a 30-minute informational program on the digital
television (DTV) transition between 8 a.m.-11:35 p.m. on at least one
day after April 1, 2009, and prior to the station's termination of
analog service. The program must contain at least the following
information:
(i) The fact that Congress has changed the deadline for the national
DTV transition to June 12, 2009;
(ii) The date and approximate time of day when the station airing the
informational video is terminating analog service;
(iii) The date and approximate time of day when all other full-power
stations in the same market are terminating analog service;
(iv) For stations covered by paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the same
service loss information required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section.
(6) Beginning on April 1, 2009, or sixty (60) days prior to the
station's termination of analog service, whichever is later, the
station must begin a 60-Day Countdown to its transition to digital-only
service. During this period, the station must air at least one of the
following per day:
(i) Graphic display. A graphic super-imposed during programming content
that reminds viewers graphically there are "x number of days" until the
transition. They will be visually instructed to call a toll-free number
and/or visit a Web site for details. The duration must be at least five
(5) seconds.
(ii) Animated graphic. A moving or animated graphic that ends up as a
countdown reminder. It would remind viewers that there are "x number of
days" until the transition. They will be visually instructed to call a
toll-free number and/or visit a Web site for details. The duration must
be at least five (5) seconds.
(iii) Graphic and audio display. Option #1 or option #2 with an added
audio component. The duration must be at least five (5) seconds.
(iv) Longer form reminders. Stations can choose from a variety of
longer form options to communicate the countdown message. Examples
might include an "Ask the Expert" segment where viewers can call in to
a phone bank and ask knowledgeable people their questions about the
transition. The duration must be at least two (2) minutes. (Some
stations may also choose to include during newscasts DTV "experts" who
may be asked questions by the anchor or reporter about the impending
transition deadline.)
(e) Consumer Education Campaign Option Three:
(1) Only a licensee or permittee of a noncommercial television station
may elect this option. Under this option, from March 27, 2008, through
April 30, 2008, a noncommercial broadcaster must, at a minimum, air 60
seconds per day of transition-related education (PSAs), in variable
timeslots, including at least 7.5 minutes per month between 6 p.m. and
12 a.m. From May 1, 2008, through October 31, 2008, a broadcaster must,
at a minimum, air 120 seconds per day of transition-related education
(PSAs), in variable timeslots, including at least 15 minutes per month
between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. From November 1, 2008, through the station's
termination of analog service, or, for stations subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b)(4) of this section, until the station
completes construction of its full, authorized post-transition digital
facility, a broadcaster must, at a minimum, air 180 seconds per day of
transition-related education (PSAs), in variable timeslots, including
at least 22.5 minutes per month between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m.
(2) Noncommercial stations must air a 30-minute informational program
on the digital television (DTV) transition between 8 a.m.-11:35 p.m. on
at least one day after April 1, 2009, and prior to the station's
termination of analog service. The program must contain at least the
following information:
(i) The fact that Congress has changed the deadline for the national
DTV transition to June 12, 2009;
(ii) The date and approximate time of day when the station airing the
informational video is terminating analog service;
(iii) The date and approximate time of day when all other full-power
stations in the same market are terminating analog service;
(iv) For stations covered by paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the same
service loss information required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section.
[ 74 FR 11315 , Mar. 17, 2009]
Goto Section: 73.673 | 73.681
Goto Year: 2010 |
2012
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