Confusion about DTV could lead to fraud

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

After midnight on February 17, 2009, all television stations in the U.S. will stop broadcasting in analog format and transmit only in digital instead. This sweeping change, mandated by Congress, is intended to free up bandwidth in the broadcast spectrum for use by public safety and emergency services and to expand wireless broadband services. For television viewers, it will mean better picture and sound quality and more programming choices. But the transition from analog to digital television (DTV) is going to be confusing, and con artists are likely to take advantage of that fact to defraud consumers.

Most people today have televisions with only analog tuners. If yours is one of them and you receive free, “over-the-air” signals — that is, you don’t have cable or satellite service — your screen will go blank after February 17, 2009 unless you have a digital-to-analog converter box. Starting on January 1, 2008 and through March 31, 2009, the U.S. government will offer two coupons per household, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of these converter boxes (which will probably cost around $60). For more information about the coupon program, go to www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon or call 888-DTV-2009, TTY 877-530-2634.

If your television only has an analog, not a digital tuner and you are a cable or satellite TV customer, you may not need to do anything. Your cable or satellite company will convert the signal from digital to analog. But depending on how the company does that, you may need a converter. This is NOT the same type of converter that will be required for analog TV owners who don’t have cable or satellite service, and the government coupons can NOT be used toward this expense. The converter may be provided free or you may have to pay for it; ask your cable or satellite provider if you will need one and whether there will be any charge.

Of course, if you buy a television with a digital tuner you don’t have to worry about conversion boxes at all. However, the government coupons can’t be used toward purchasing a digital TV. As of March 1, 2007 all televisions shipped over state lines or imported into the U.S. must have digital tuners. But retailers are still allowed to sell TVs they had in stock before that date that only have analog tuners. They must prominently display a notice near the televisions informing consumers that they are analog-only and that converters will be needed after February 17, 2009 to receive “over the air” signals.

How do you know if the TV you already have has a digital tuner? The label may tell you, but the words or abbreviations that are used vary, and some labels, such as “Digital Monitor” or “Digital Ready,” can be confusing because they don’t mean that the television actually has a digital tuner. The Federal Communication Commission created a special Web site, www.dtv.gov, which offers fact sheets, answers to frequently asked questions, and much more to help consumers understand the ins and outs of DTV. If you don’t have Internet access or you still have questions, call the FCC at 888-225-5322, TTY 888-835-5322.

It’s vital for consumers to know what steps, if any, they need to take to ensure that they continue to get television signals after February 17, 2009 and to avoid fraud.  It’s not hard to imagine imposters posing as the government offering bogus converter box coupons for a fee or in an effort to get consumers’ personal information. Or con artists using scare tactics to sell equipment that consumers don’t need, that doesn’t work, or is never delivered.

Unscrupulous sellers will undoubtedly pass off analog televisions as digital in online auctions and Internet classified ads and in the physical world in places such as flea markets. Even scarier is the potential for criminals to show up at people’s doors, pretending to be there to install equipment, in order to steal money or other valuables.

So don’t wait — get the facts and prepare yourself now for the conversion to DTV.

This article was provided by Focus on Fraud, a publication of The National Consumers League’s Alliance Against Fraud.