The digital television (DTV) transition refers to the switch from analog to digital broadcast television. Congress has mandated that after February 17, 2009, full-power television stations will stop broadcasting in analog, and will continue broadcasting in digital only. While the majority of consumers in the U.S. can receive the programming of full-power over-the-air stations, there are three other categories of broadcast TV stations - "low-power," "Class A," and "translator" stations. There is currently no statutory deadline for these stations to convert to digital broadcasting.
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While the February 17, 2009 deadline for ending analog broadcasts does not apply to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations, the FCC will require these stations to convert to digital broadcasting sometime thereafter. More than 2,100 of these stations have been authorized to construct digital facilities and some are broadcasting in digital already. The FCC is currently considering the remaining issues involved with the low-power digital transition and will make decisions regarding these stations in the future