LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

MEMORANDUM

TITLE: Digital TV Transition ROUTING

All Schools and Offices
NUMBER: MEM-4623

ISSUER: Anthony D. Tortorice

Chief Information Officer
DATE: January 23, 2009

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Memorandum is to provide schools and offices with information
regarding changes in the Digital TV Transition.

BACKGROUND: Local TV broadcast stations, received using a rooftop or rabbit ears antenna, are
moving from an analog to a digital signal. The U.S. government established
February 17, 2009 as the deadline for all broadcast stations to convert to digital
signals and terminate their analog signals. After this deadline, broadcast TV stations
will stop transmitting using analog technology, and will start transmitting using a
digital signal.

There were several reasons why the Federal government made this change. They
needed to free up the analog signal capacity to make it available to first-responders,
such as local police and fire departments. Another reason for the change to a digital
broadcast is to enable TV stations to improve sound and picture quality, to be able to
transmit high-definition TV (HDTV) signals, and to provide more broadcast
channels. High Definition Televisions (HDTVs) are not required to receive the
digital signal. Standard digital televisions or analog televisions with a converter box
are required.

Televisions that are only connected to a video cassette recorder/player (VCR) or

DVD player and not receiving broadcast channels will continue to function and are
unaffected. This covers the majority of LAUSD schools. Schools that subscribe to
cable or satellite (such as Time Warner, Cox, Charter, DISH, and DirectTV) may
also not be affected, because the signal may already be converted under their current
agreement with the provider.
PROCEDURES: In order to prepare for the transition, the appropriate staff at schools and offices
should:
1. Determine the location of their TV sets.
2. Determine the type of connection for each TV:
a. How many TVs are only connected to DVD or VCR player?
b. How many TVs are receiving broadcasting from a paid cable or
satellite service (such as Time Warner, Cox, Charter, DISH, and
DirectTV)?
c. How many TVs are receiving over-the-air broadcasting from either a
roof-top antenna or rabbit ear antenna?
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MEMORANDUM

3. Use the following table as a guide:

Type of Connection Action

TVs that are only connected to DVD or
VCR player.
TVs that are receiving broadcasting
from a paid cable or satellite service
(such as Time Warner, Cox, Charter,
DISH, and DirectTV).
TV’s that are receiving broadcasting
from a rooftop or rabbit ears antenna.
None. These TVs will continue to
function normally and are unaffected by
the DTV transition.
Verify with the customer service
department of the paid cable or satellite
service provider whether any change is
required to continue receiving channels.
These TVs will each require a converter
box or will need to be replaced with
digital TVs.

The Federal Government has a coupon program that provides up to $40 for the
purchase of the digital converter boxes. This program is only available to residents
at this time. Residents that request coupons can donate them (they may not sell them
for any price) to schools. Each resident is eligible to receive two coupons.

RELATED Educational Technology website at http://edtech.lausd.net

RESOURCES: Federal Communications Commission DTV transition website at http://www.dtv.gov
Cable in the Classroom website at http://www.ciconline.org

ASSISTANCE: For assistance or further information please contact the ITD Helpdesk at
http://www.techsupport.lausd.net/ or 213-241-5200.

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