Why is the FCC requiring the switch to digital TV (DTV)?
There are two primary reasons: improved public safety and the ability to deliver enhanced technology services to the public with greater efficiency. The conversion to DTV will free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used for other important services, such as advanced wireless (cellular) and public safety services (police, fire departments, rescue squads, etc.) DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the traditional analog broadcast technology that has been in use since the early days of television. It provides enhanced signal quality and reliability, and offers consumers an improved viewing experience and greater programming variety. For example, rather than being limited to providing just one analog-quality program per assigned frequency, a broadcaster will be able to provide either a super-sharp “high-definition” (HDTV) program or multiple “standard-definition” (SDTV) programs simultaneously. The number of p
