Cooperative Living May 2020 - 23

CloserLook | Story courtesy of Family Features
Some Over-the-Air
TV Frequencies
Are Changing
I
How do you
watch local
channels
on TV?
f you rely on a rooftop or indoor antenna for your TV
viewing, changes that may affect your local channels are
happening.
The Federal Communications Commission is making
more airwaves available for new high-speed wireless services.
As a result, some over-the-air TV broadcast frequencies
will change.
" Some TV stations across the nation are changing
frequencies to help make airwaves available to meet evergrowing
consumer demand for high-speed mobile broadband
services such as 5G, " says Jean Kiddoo, FCC incentive auction
task force chair.
" The channel numbers on the TV are not changing, but
viewers who use a rooftop or indoor antenna need to rescan
their televisions to continue receiving those channels. The
process is the same as when viewers first connected their TVs
to the antennas and scanned them to find local channels,
and the FCC has resources to help viewers who may need
assistance. "
Viewers who watch TV with antennas need to rescan their
TVs, but don't need to buy new TVs or purchase converter
boxes. Cable and satellite subscribers are not affected by these
changes.
The frequency changes are happening on a rolling basis
through July 2020, so not all changes will happen at the same
time. TV stations will give you at least 30 days' notice that their
channels are changing frequency.
You should be on the lookout for announcements by your
local channels on when to rescan, and if you notice a channel
you normally watch is missing, try rescanning in case you
missed the notice.
For more information and tips on how to rescan, visit
fcc.gov/TVrescan or call 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322). ■
HOW TO RESCAN YOUR TV
Common Transition Questions
How will I know it's time to rescan?
Some local TV channels will change frequencies at
various times through mid-2020. Your local TV stations
will announce their specific " rescan days " on which you
will need to rescan. You should be on the lookout for
public service announcements and " crawls " running
across your TV screen.
A good rule of thumb is to rescan your TV anytime
you notice a missing channel. If you haven't rescanned
in a while, you may be surprised by how many other
channels are now available.
Who will be affected by the transition?
People who watch television with an antenna will
be affected. Millions of consumers across the country
watch free, over-the-air TV using an antenna. Cable and
satellite subscribers will not need to take any action.
Will channel numbers change?
No, the channel numbers you see on your TV are
not changing, but you will need to rescan your television
to update it to find the new frequencies so you can
continue receiving those same local channels.
How can I find out which TV stations
are changing frequencies?
The FCC website has an interactive map where
you can insert your zip code to see which of your
local TV channels will be changing and the dates
during which you should be watching for the station
to announce its " rescan day. " To access the map,
visit fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtymaps.
Why are frequencies changing?
The frequency changes are making more airwaves
available to meet the demand of American consumers
and businesses for increased mobile broadband capacity,
new 5G wireless and other advanced high-speed
mobile services currently being developed.
co-opliving.com
May 2020 | Cooperative Living | 21
I use an
antenna or
have an
older TV
Plan to
rescan
your TV
SOURCE: FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
http://www.fcc.gov/TVrescan http://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtymaps http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2020

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