The Federal Communications Commission, in April of 1997, issued rules requiring all television stations to convert to a new digital broadcasting standard. KOIN began digital transmissions on December 17, 1999.  Congress later set June 12th, 2009 as the last date for analog television transmissions.  After that date all full power television stations must turn off their analog transmitters.

The new digital television system adds significant new capabilities to television broadcasting, including:

• High Definition Television -- with a wide screen theater-like picture that is significantly sharper and doesn't suffer from the many problems of the current analog television system. The audio accompanying the picture will be in Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
• Multiple Programs -- Several 'standard definition' programs can be transmitted simultaneously. The digital system will bring an end to the noise, interference and color changes, which are common today. The digital picture received will be of the same quality as it was produced.
• Data Transmission -- Using space left over from television transmissions, up to 1.5 megabits or more of data can be transmitted to home computers or future smart TVs.

By combining all of these capabilities, a much enhanced and potentially very interactive family of programs can be developed for viewing with the digital system.

As the interest in Digital and High Definition television has increased so has the amount of programming that takes advantage of the technology. All of the film originated 'prime-time' programs on the CBS Network are being presented in HDTV as are most sports events. CBS also broadcasts the daytime drama 'The Young and the Restless' and ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ in HDTV. This adds up to more than 30 hours per week of HDTV programming being provided by CBS and KOIN-DT.

In order to begin digital broadcasting, every television station had to build a second digital television station while continuing to operate the analog stations. Broadcasting transmission facilities were generally not designed for this type of expansion, so replacement towers and buildings were required by many stations. Because of the huge expense of these facilities, stations have gotten together to build shared facilities and reduce the number of new towers needing to be built.  KOIN-DT shares its facilities with the digital transmissions of three other DTV broadcasters.

You can find out more about HDTV and Digital Television from these sources:

Frequently Asked Questions (Link to ‘KOIN FAQ (MSWord doc)’)

Receiving KOIN-DT (Link to ‘Receiving KOIN-DT (MSWord doc)’) – Information on the location of the KOIN-DT transmitter and using an antenna to receive it.

Information on how to receive a $40 coupon toward the purchase of a digital converter box: (www.dtv2009.com)

Phone: 888-DTV-2009 -- deaf or hard of hearing 877-530-2634(TTY)

Web site: www.dtv2009.gov

FCC Digital Television Conversion Homepage (http://www.dtv.gov/) – provides information for consumers.

FCC Digital TV Page (http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/) - provides background information on the regulatory issues of digital television.

National Association of Broadcasters Conversion Homepage (http://www.dtvanswers.com/) – provides information for consumers

Consumer Electronics Association (http://www.ce.org/AboutCEA/CEAInitiatives/3617.asp) - maintains a web site about digital television, as well.

Digital TV: A Cringely Crash Course (http://www.pbs.org/opb/crashcourse/) - produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting to help explain digital television, this is a less technical, more educational (and what else would you expect), explanation of DTV.

HDTV Magazine (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/) - published by Dale Cripps, long a follower of the HDTV arena and Oregon resident, he provides lots of background information as well as history and opinion.

Advanced Television Standards Committee (http://www.atsc.org/) - the multi-discipline standards setting body established by the FCC to develop the digital TV standards, mostly technical information.

Defining Vision by Joel Brinkley - Information the old fashioned way. This is a book written by the New York Times writer who has been covering HDTV since it first flickered to life. He describes the somewhat torturous path taken to get to where the technology is today. An interesting political drama as well as a record of how a technology gets from an idea to reality You can also find his current work in the technology section of the NY Times Online edition

Oregonians with questions about the Digital Television transition can take advantage of these walk-in centers in Portland.

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) - Assistance Center
10301 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97220
503.445.1438

Providing outreach and assistance to prepare the immigrant and refugee communities of Portland for the digital television transition. Open M-F 8am-5pm. Trainings M-W 8am-5pm.

Urban League of Portland - Drop-in Center
10 N Russell St.
Portland, OR 97227
503.280.2600

Providing outreach and assistance to prepare the African-American community and other North Portland communities for the digital television transition.

Open M-F 8am-5pm.
Trainings M-F 8am-5pm.

Elders in Action
1411 SW Morrison St. Ste. 290
Portland, OR 97205
www.eldersinaction.org
503-235-5474