A few more things you should know about the DTV transition

Our Yahoo! Tech advisors have covered next year's Digital Television Transition, and many sites are devoted entirely to this topic. But it appears there's still a lot of confusion out there about the transition, as Ben noted. Sadly, more than one-third of U.S. households don't know about the transition, while others are rushing out to buy new TV sets they don't need. What's really upsetting is that some folks may unknowingly be buying analog-only televisions that will still require a converter box or cable subscription next year, because retailers refuse to put up disclosure signs.

You see, the Federal Communications Commission requires that all TVs manufactured, imported, or shipped since March 1, 2007, include a digital tuner. Analog-only sets that don't have digital tuner can still be sold, as long as retailers display warnings to consumers near them. The problem that is retailers like Wal-Mart, Sears, Target, and Circuit City haven't been following this rule. So they are now facing hefty fines from the FCC.

According to an FCC report, Sears "willfully and repeatedly" violated the rules by failing to display a sign next to analog-only equipment it was selling online and in stores. Sears received more than 20 citations and is now facing a $1.1 million fine. Wal-Mart is looking at a $992,000 fine for violations in 51 stores, and Circuit City is facing a $712,000 fine.

More companies will no doubt try to take advantage of the digital TV-transition confusion. So I thought I'd put together a few tips to help you make an informed decision before you buy or subscribe to something you may not need.

To clarify, you're not affected by the DTV transition if you have one of the following:

* A TV with a digital tuner

* A digital-to-analog converter box
* A cable or satellite TV subscription that's not connected straight to your TV set (more on this later)
Only analog TV owners who rely on antennas to receive over-the-air-television signals are affected by the change.

Find out if your TV has a digital tuner

If you own a TV that's a few years old and not rectangular, a quick look inside your owner's manual may tell you if your television has a digital tuner. Some TVs with this feature are labeled, but if yours isn't, you can go to the manufacturer's website and search for your model. Sets with digital tuners will have one of the following labels:

Integrated Digital Tuner
Digital Tuner Built-In
Digital Receiver
Digital Tuner
DTV
ATSC
HDTV (High-Definition Television)

Do not buy a television that doesn't have a digital tuner, unless you're planning to spend more money on a converter box. If you plan to buy one anyway, keep in mind that it doesn't need to be an HDTV, unless you want high-definition programming-which usually requires an additional subscription from your cable provider, anyway.

No digital tuner, no problem

You don't have to get rid of your favorite analog TV set. Just get a converter box. All U.S. households are eligible to apply for up to two $40 coupons that can be used towards the purchase of a converter box. These coupons are being handed out between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, and you can request your coupon here. Keep in mind that you don't need a converter box if you have cable or satellite service.

Cable subscribers are also affected

According to a report by the Associated Press, cable customers may face additional charges due to the DTV transition. Those with set-top boxes don't need to worry too much, but the over 28 million who plug their cable wires straight into the back of their TVs may have to pay for converter boxes. Check with your provider to determine your situation. One customer in the AP story was told she needed to rent a converter box per television for $5.95 per month each, plus a $60 installation fee, increasing her bill 75 percent.

If you have extra analog televisions in your home without converter boxes, you may want to look into your options now-before it's too late.

Related:
Digital TV Shift May Aid Cable Companies
Digital shift affects cable

On Yahoo! Tech:

A Guide to the 2009 DTV Transition
Update on 2009 Digital TV Conversion
Making Sense of the HDTV Marketing Mumbo-Jumbo