Low Power
Television and Translator Grant Programs
Low‑power television broadcast stations, Class
A television stations, television translator stations,
and television booster stations ("low‑power
facilities") are not required to convert to digital
and will be able to broadcast in analog after the June 12, 2009, digital conversion deadline for full power television
stations.
On 05/12/2009 NTIA announced the start of the Low Power TV and Translator Upgrade grant program to help operators of analog low-power television stations upgrade their analog facilities to digital broadcast capacity.
NTIA has two grant programs to assist low-power facilities
during the digital transition.
Background:
Low-Power
Television and Translator Digital-to-Analog Conversion
Program |
Background:
Low-Power
Television and Translator Digital Upgrade Program |
| About:
The Conversion
Program provides stations that must purchase a digital to analog conversion device to convert the incoming digital signal of a full power television station to analog for transmission on the low power station's analog channel. |
About:
The Upgrade
Program will reimburse the costs
to upgrade analog low‑power television broadcast
stations, Class A television stations, television
translator stations, and television booster stations
in rural communities to digital transmission. |
| Assistance Available:
Eligible stations can apply for a $1,000 grant to purchase a digital to analog conversion device.
|
Assistance Available:
Eligible stations can apply for reimbursement(s), up to $6,000 to refit analog equipment for digital transmission or up to $20,000 to replace analog equipment with digital equipment, to upgrade low-power stations in eligible rural communities from analog to digital.
|
| Status:
NTIA is now accepting applications postmarked by June 12, 2009. The program will not accept applications postmarked after June 12, 2009.
Click
here for program Information. |
Status:
NTIA is now accepting applications from eligible stations qualifying for priority reimbursement. These applications are due 07/13/2009. Beginning 09/01/2009; in subsequent months applications are due from any eligible station the first business day of each month for as long as funds are available.
Click
here for program information. |
NTIA also operates the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program; many converter boxes contain an analog pass-through feature so viewers can continue to watch analog low-power facilities while also receiving digital full-power television.
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