The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been working on a nationwide strategy to increase awareness of the shift to digital television signal, a move scheduled for February 17, 2009. Among other methods to increase awareness of the upcoming transition, the FCC will reportedly hold public events in each of the 80 markets it identified.

FCC commissioners have reportedly split the country’s key markets between them and plan to visit and inform residents of what they have to do in order to continue receiving over-the-air TV broadcasts. The agreement between the commissioners was announced by FCC chairman Kevin Martin.

The commission’s list includes all TV markets with more than 100,000 households or at least 15% of them receive television only through over-the-air signals. The list contains large markets such as New York and Chicago and also smaller markets like Lubbock, Texas and Twin Falls, Idaho.

Martin mentioned another strategy the FCC might use to notify people about the transition to DTV. Signals for "rabbit ear" antennas will be shut down for 30 to 60 seconds in order to show users that their antennas will soon become futile. During the interruptions, called “soft tests” by Martin, the TV screen will display a toll-free number for viewers to call and ask for information on the digital switchover.

The FCC chose Wilmington, N.C., as the test market for the transition. Starting from September 8 at noon, all the commercial programs will be transmitted on digital channels only, while on the analog channels, viewers will only be able so see information about the DTV transfer.

As for the visits the FCC officials plan to make, the targeted markets are those with more than 100,000 households. The commission intends to inform customers more vulnerable to lose TV reception due to the transition. Most likely to lose TV reception are seniors, people with disabilities and low incomes, those who do not speak English and several others.

"As part of our efforts to prepare consumers for the transition, we have identified television markets in which the largest number of viewers will have to take action to be prepared for the transition six months from now," said Martin.

The FCC estimated that about 80% of the viewers are already aware of the DTV transition, but efforts are made to avoid leaving the other 20% without TV.