Satellite : FCC Releases Updated DTV Rules

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday issued its revised rules for broadcasters making the switch to digital television.

Most notably, the new rules, drafted in response to the postponed DTV cutoff date, require broadcasters that will lose at least two percent of their historic coverage areas to warn viewers on-air about transition plans for at least 30 days. The notification can either in the form of a crawl or a PSA, the FCC said, and information about antennas need to be included as part of the notifications.

What's more, more broadcasters that are still airing analog signals won't be able to switch to digital until at least April 16, provided they notify the FCC of their plans by this week. Stations have until March 17 to tell the FCC when they plan to transition in the April 16-June 12 window.