On March 3, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice suspending stations' obligations to begin today the airing of a digital television (DTV) countdown clock.

Background
The DTV Consumer Education Initiative originally required broadcasters that elected to comply with the Option Two consumer education requirements (NAB plan) to run a daily countdown clock for the last 100 days prior to the February 17 transition.

In light of the Congressional delay of the transition date to June 12, 2009, the FCC previously had required all Option Two stations to begin a new 100-day countdown on March 4, 2009.

After discussion with NAB and stations, the FCC found that it could be confusing for viewers to see a 100-day countdown beginning on March 4, only to see a different clock in the event that the FCC subsequently revises the requirement as it considers how to implement Congress' delay of the transition. Therefore, the FCC has temporarily waived the Option Two requirement to air countdown information on the effective date of new rules adopted by the FCC in the pending proceeding MB Docket No. 09-17.

Other Requirements Remain In Effect
Stations that elected to comply with the Option Two requirements will then be required to comply with the consumer education requirements as revised by the FCC; in the interim, the FCC reminds broadcasters that all other provisions of the DTV Consumer Education Initiative remain in effect.

NAB will be producing a new series of spots focusing on antenna reception, converter boxes and rescanning for digital channels. Additionally, NAB will be producing a new 30-minute long-form program on the DTV transition to reflect the new date. The spots and the long-form program will be available in both English and Spanish and will be captioned. We will advise stations when they will be available for distribution.

Should you have any questions, please contact the NAB Legal department at (888) 682-0276 (toll-free).