Why is the digital transition happening?
Broadcasters are transitioning to digital to provide important benefits to consumers. Because digital broadcasting is more efficient, broadcasters require less of the airwaves to provide a better television viewing experience. Once the DTV transition is completed, some television channels will be turned over to fire and police departments for emergency communication and others will be auctioned to companies to provide new wireless services.
Congress mandated the Digital Transition of 2009 because of the many benefits it will provide for American consumers. Digital television provides many advantages over analog television, which is the current and standard television broadcast method. Such advantages include taking up less bandwidth (thus broadcasters can provide more digital channels in the same space), high-definition television service, multi-plexing (or more than one program on some channels), electronic program guides, additional language options, superior picture, reception, audio quality, and more.
Digital broadcasting is far more efficient using a fraction of the airwaves now allocated for analog broadcasts and provides a superior television viewing experience. Once the DTV transition is completed, some television channels will be turned over to fire and police departments for emergency communication and others will be auctioned to companies to provide new wireless services.
