Here's the release:

What: Best Buy is teaming up with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to host in-store workshops about the digital television (DTV) transition in 25 cities across the country. Local broadcasters and Best Buy BlueShirt employees will facilitate the workshops to educate and help consumers prepare for the February 17, 2009 transition. These clinics will be held at the South County store in the St. Louis market on Monday, November 17, starting at noon. At the DTV workshops, consumers will be able to participate in discussions with Best Buy home theater experts and local broadcasters and get hands-on demonstrations on options for upgrading to DTV.

How: Knowledgeable Best Buy employees are available to assist consumers in finding the right DTV option to fit their lifestyle and needs. During the clinics, Best Buy technology pros and local broadcasters will review the following:

- What to expect when the February 17, 2009 DTV transition happens
- Consumers' three options to prepare for the transition
- An explanation of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's coupon program and how to apply
- Tips for converter box installation
Information on the importance of antennas

When: The in-store DTV workshops will be held on Monday, November 17, noon to 1 p.m.

Why: The DTV workshops will help consumers prepare for the digital transition on February 17, 2009, when all full-power television stations in the United States stop broadcasting in analog and switch to exclusively digital broadcasting.

Where: The Best Buy DTV workshops will be conducted in the following Best Buy locations: 7017 S. Lindbergh, St. Louis, MO 63125
.

WHAT: Best Buy will be hosting a Free Consumer Electronics Recycling Event.
The first 100 cars will receive a $5 Best Buy gift card each day of the event.
The list of acceptable items include:
TVs
VCRs
Computer Monitors
Phones (includes cell phones)
CPUs
Inkjet/Printer cartridges
Rechargeable batteries (Nicad, NiMH, Li-Ion, small sealed lead)
Computer Peripherals (i.e. keyboards, mouse, etc)
Scanners, printers, and fax machines
Stereo Equipment

Items NOT accepted
Microwaves
Smoke Detectors
Large home appliances (i.e. washers, refrigerators, etc)

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: South County Best Buy (Parking Lot)
7017 S Lindbergh Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63125
314-487-4999

Consumers Urged to Apply for Converter Box Coupons By Year-End
Consumers Should Plan for Six Weeks to "Apply, Buy and Try" to Make February Digital TV Transition

For Immediate Release: September 30, 2008

WASHINGTON-The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announced today that "over-the-air" television viewers who want to participate in the TV Converter Box Coupon Program should apply for coupons before the end of the year to minimize the chances of losing TV reception when full-power broadcasters switch to digital. Full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009.

"The Wilmington, North Carolina test showed that households who rely on a TV antenna for reception need to apply early in order to minimize the number of Americans adversely affected when the switch occurs," said Acting Assistant Secretary and Acting NTIA Administrator Meredith Baker. "We urge consumers who need coupons not to wait until the last minute and to apply for your coupon(s), buy a converter box, and try the box with their television as soon as possible"

For consumers receiving free, over-the-air broadcasts on analog televisions, use the following three steps to make the transition to digital television:

Step 1: Apply.
Apply for a coupon now. Coupons are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Consumers can apply for coupons online at www.DTV2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), by fax at 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) or by mail to PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY).

Step 2: Buy.
Consumers should buy their converter boxes soon after their coupons arrive in the mail. Consumers will receive a list of participating local, phone and online retailers with their coupons. TV viewers are urged to make their choice before the end of the year.

Step 3: Try.
Once a consumer has purchased a converter box, they should connect the box to their analog TV immediately and follow the installation, and channel scanning instructions, and antenna adjustments, if needed. This provides the opportunity to test the converter box and troubleshoot potential problems prior to the transition date. Most importantly, consumers can start enjoying the benefits of a clearer picture and more programming choices now, so don't wait to install your converter box.

For more information about the Coupon Program, please visit www.DTV2009.gov.

Background

The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital after February 17, 2009. The Act authorizes NTIA to create the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, which is funded by the $19 billion airwaves auction and not tax dollars.

Digital broadcast television offers consumers a clearer picture, more programming choices and will free up the airwaves for better communications among emergency first responders and new telecommunications services.

Over-the-air television viewers need to look at each analog TV in their home that is not connected to cable, satellite or other pay television service and make a timely decision. They can connect their TV to cable, satellite or pay television service; they can replace it with a digital TV; or they may keep it working with a TV converter box.
For consumers choosing the converter box option, the TV Converter Box Coupon Program permits all households to request one or two coupons - each worth $40 - toward the purchase of certified converter boxes. Coupons may be requested until March 31, 2009, or while supplies last. Consumers can purchase a converter box at more than 29,000 participating local, phone or online retailers. Converter boxes generally cost between $45 and $80.

Some viewers watch programs over translators or other low-power stations which may continue broadcasting analog signals after February 17, 2009. Those viewers may wish to select a converter box that will pass through analog signals.

Households, not including nursing home residents and P.O. Box applicants, may apply now for coupons online at www.DTV2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), via fax at 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) or by mail to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY). Consumers will receive a list of eligible converter boxes and participating retailers with their coupons. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed, and only one coupon can be used to purchase each coupon-eligible converter box.

If viewers have difficulty receiving digital broadcast stations in their area, the troubleshooting guide, produced by the Federal Communications Commission, provides a checklist for connecting a converter and tips on reception of digital signals.

For more information about the Coupon Program, please visit www.DTV2009.gov and for questions about the DTV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC.

NTIA is responsible for the development of the domestic and international telecommunications policy of the Executive Branch.

# # #

I've been spending many hours answering DTV emails, so please let me apologize for not posting here more often. I promise to add things here more often. Here's a great question I got this week from Judy, followed by my answer.
Marc

Questions/Comments:
My mother is in a nursing home in Freeburg,Il. They now have an antenna and do not intend to switch to cable or satellite. I bought a converter box and hooked it up. She only gets 11&30. Without the box she was receiving 2,4,5,11,&9. Why can't she get the old channels? I have e-mailed the converter box company 2 times and have not received a reply. Should I get a new box? Please Help!!!!
Judy

*****************************

Judy,
This sounds like an antenna problem, and we hear about this alot with older antennas. You have to have the right type of antenna, and it has to be in the right spot. Another problem can be that if there's only one antenna for all the TV's in the nursing home, the signal degrades too much before it gets to the converter box.

1st) Have them check the antenna - is it on the roof? That's always best.

2nd) Make sure it's a good UHF antenna. Older antennas could often pick up UHF signals, but they aren't ideal for UHF Digital signals. Several companies make reasonably priced antennas designed especially for this purpose. ( www.antennasdirect.com )

3rd) If the cable is longer than 30 feet from the antenna to the TV, or if the signal is split to a number of TV's, even if you're getting good signal strength at the antenna, it may be too weak by the time it travels down the line to the TVs. An antenna "amplifier" is one option - IF you are getting good signal strength at the antenna to begin with.

4th) Have them check the cable. Some older antennas use a thin, two-wire cable. Digital signals are best received over Rg6 Coaxial cable.

Thanks,
Marc Cox
KMOV-TV

Rob,
If you don't have a place for an external antenna hook-up, you're out of luck after February 17th. I understand there are some companies producing portable TV's with a "Digital" tuner, but I'm sure they cost a pretty penny. Otherwise, you have to have a converter hooked up to receive the new signal.

Regards,
Marc

No questions; a comment. I'm on a VA Disability Pension & a fixed income. I had (note the word had) the most basic package from Charter. It only included local St. Louis stations, government access & the shopping channels. (Puke) It was about $13.50 a month.

After applying on-line for my DTV converter boxes, I tried one at first. On the same indoor antenna that got little or no reception on analog, I now have a picture that's better than cable. And it's FREE! I went back to Radio Shack, bought the second converter box, and cancelled the cable! Tell your viewers this...an indoor antenna around the city does work, and works quite well.

Now on to the next QUESTION OF THE DAY:

I have a few questions regarding DTV, but first, a few background facts. I purchased an HDTV in February after my trusty old Magnavox died. (I had applied for the converter box coupon in January. I still have them.) When I purchased the HDTV I also bought an indoor amplified multi-directional antenna since I do not subscribe to cable or satellite.
Why does the picture freeze all the time when I am viewing the digital stations? I am lucky if I get 3-5 minutes of unfrozen viewing during a 30 minute sitcom. I am approximately 8 miles north of the airport.

ANSWER:

The picture freeze is a common problem related to DTV reception, which means your antenna needs to be adjusted. That means either in the attic, or on the roof. UHF signals are more commonly interrupted by hills and tall buildings than the VHF signals used for analog TV. The higher the antenna the better. Those "amplified multi-directional antennas" are great for VHF signals, but not always for UHF if you are some distance from the transmitter.
Hope that helps!

Regards,
Marc

Here we go with the DTV blog, where hopefully we can answer some of the questions being sent in about this big changeover to Digital TV. I'll get to as many questions as I can in the coming months, so please be patient while I get the right answers for you.

QUESTION: Since the cable company now charges extra for the digital tiers, does that mean those of us on fixed incomes who haven't wanted to pay the extra or couldn't pay the extra, will be charged more on our monthly bills? If you don't want or need to watch many of the digital channels, will it be cheaper to buy a new tv that is digtal ready? Thanks for taking time to respond to our questions.
TerelSue

ANSWER: TerelSue, this one is easy. If you have a cable box or satellite receiver, the box attached to your TV will automatically convert the signal to Digital. You won't need to do anything. This switchover only affects people who receive their signal with an regular antenna. Those folks will have to upgrade their TV, or buy a converter box. Please see the DTV link Click here on KMOV.COM for easy instructions.

Thanks!
Marc