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 February 17, 2009, digital conversion deadline for full power television stations. On October 29, 2007, NTIA announced the start of the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion grant program that will help low-power television stations continue analog broadcasts.

As announced in the Federal Register, this grant program will provide funds to eligible low-power 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.

Applications are being accepted between October 29, 2007 and February 17, 2009.

Even if a station is not eligible for the Conversion program, it may qualify for the future Upgrade Program. The Upgrade Program is discussed below as well as in the New User Guide.

• New User Guide and Registration for the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program and optional information for the Low-Power Upgrade Program

• Returning/Registered User Application Form

For more information:

• Frequently Asked Questions (October 29, 2007)

• Program Overview (October 29, 2007 -- Powerpoint)

• Presentation to the Community Broadcasters Association
  (October 29, 2007 -- Powerpoint)

• Program Background--Presentation to the National Translator Association (June 22, 2007)
  [ -- HTML -- Powerpoint -- Acrobat PDF -- ]

• Frequently-Asked Questions for Viewers of Translators and Low Power Stations
  
  
• FCC Consumer Advisory on the DTV Transition and LPTV/Class A/Translator Stations
  
  
• Listing of Class A, Low Power, and Translator TV Stations by State

The 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.

Payments up to $65 million are authorized for the program with funds to come from the auction proceeds deposited in the DTV Transition Fund by June 30, 2008. Details on the program will be available at a future date.

Please also see "Planning for the Digital Upgrade Program" in the New User Guide for the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program.