**DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE**

**National Telecommunications and Information Administration**

**RIN 0660-AA16**

**Docket Number: 0612242667-7150-02**

Instructions to Assist Manufacturers Submitting Digital-to-Analog
Converter Box Test Results and Sample Equipment for Certification.

**AGENCY:** National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

**ACTION:** Notice.

**SUMMARY:** This notice provides guidance for manufacturers that intend
to submit digital-to-analog converter boxes to the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for
certification as part of the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon
Program. This notice also provides address and contact information
regarding the required submission of test results and sample equipment.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Art Wall, Technology Advisor, DTV
Converter Coupon Program, awall@ntia.doc.gov, (410) 643-1649.**

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:** On March 15, 2007, NTIA published
regulations to implement and administer a coupon program for
digital-to-analog converter boxes.[^1] Under this program, U.S.
households will be eligible to request up to two \$40 coupons to be used
toward the purchase of up to two digital-to-analog converter boxes.
Converter boxes are necessary for consumers who may wish to continue
receiving broadcast programming over the air using analog-only
televisions not connected to cable, satellite, or other pay television
service after February 17, 2009 - - the date that full power television
broadcasters are required to cease analog broadcasting.[^2]

Among other purposes, the Final Rule specifies that manufacturers
interested in participating in the coupon program must submit a Notice
of Intent (NOI) to NTIA. The regulations provide the necessary
information to include in the NOI and also provide technical
specifications and features required for a converter box to qualify for
the coupon program. The regulations also include specific instructions
for manufacturers to submit test results along with a sample of the
tested equipment to NTIA.[^3] The preamble to the regulations notes that
NTIA has entered into an agreement with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) whereby the FCC may review the manufacturers' test
results and converter boxes if necessary.[^4] The preamble also notes
that a subsequent Public Notice will provide manufacturers with specific
address and contact information regarding the required submission of
test results and sample equipment.[^5] Moreover, section 301.5(e) of the
Final Rule states that NTIA may issue other guidance and test-bed
conditions. Accordingly, this Notice provides the following information:
(1) the Notice of Intent (NOI) submission; (2) testing guidance; (3)
test report (format and content) guidance; (4) shipping of samples; and
(5) NTIA processing.

The guidance information provided in this notice is not binding.
Compliance with the requirements contained in the regulations may be
demonstrated by following the suggestions contained in this document or
by alternative means. Manufacturers intending to participate in the
converter box coupon program should submit test results and sample
equipment to NTIA in accordance with the guidelines specified below:

**1. Notice of Intent**

a\. The NOI shall be submitted to NTIA at least three months prior to
submission of the test report and samples pursuant to section 301.5(a)
of the Final Rule. Accordingly, the NOI shall contain the following
information: name, title, email and mailing address, and the phone
number of an individual responsible for the manufacturer's submission; a
brief description of the converter box, including permitted as well as
required features; and the date on which the samples and test report for
the proposed converter(s) may be ready for submission for review. The
NOI shall be faxed to NTIA at (202) 482-4626 or delivered to: DTV
Converter Coupon Program, Room 4809, NTIA/OTIA, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230. The NOI will be kept business
confidential pursuant to section 301.5(b) of the Final Rule. A NOI form
is available on NTIA's web site at www.ntia.doc.gov.

b\. Pursuant to section 301.5(c), NTIA will provide the manufacturer
with shipping information in a letter of acknowledgement after NTIA
receives the NOI. Subsequent to receipt of the acknowledgement, a
written authorization for submitting the samples and test report will be
electronically sent to the contact person listed in the NOI. See item
3(a), below, for electronically submitting the test report, and item 4,
below, for shipping the samples.

**2. Testing Guidance**

a\. Source Material: For the performance specifications in items 8
through 13 and item 15 of Technical Appendix 1 to the Final Rule, it is
recommended that the tests be performed with a High Definition data
stream (*i.e.,* resolution of 720p or higher) with motion.

b\. Field Ensembles (#14): NTIA encourages manufacturers to specify
which 30 of the 50 field ensembles identified in ATSC A/74 were tested
successfully.

c\. Single Static Echo (#15): NTIA encourages manufacturers to specify
whether the model was tested against Criteria A or Criteria B as defined
in Technical Appendix 1. If Criteria B is chosen, manufacturers should
identify which 37 of the 50 field ensembles were tested successfully.

d\. Manufacturers submitting converters intended to comply with the EPA
Energy Star Program -- which is a permitted but not required
specification for Coupon-Eligible Converter Boxes (CECBs) -- should seek
certification from EPA that the CECB meets all requirements for
certification under the EPA program. The EPA requirements can be found
at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm.

**3. Test Report Guidance**

a\. When a manufacturer receives an authorization to submit the test
report and samples pursuant to section 301.5(c), the test report is to
be sent to Art Wall, Technical Advisor, at awall@ntia.doc.gov. To
expedite processing, NTIA encourages applicants to submit the test
report in an electronic format using Microsoft Word, pdf or jpg type
files. Files larger than 5 Mbs should be divided into separate files of
2 Mbs or less, if possible. If a manufacturer is not able to provide
test results electronically in the formats prescribed, the manufacturer
should contact Art Wall, Technical Advisor at awall@ntia.doc.gov to make
alternate arrangements.

b\. NTIA encourages manufacturers to submit test reports that
demonstrate that each model proposed to be a CECB meets all the
performance specifications and features set forth in Technical Appendix
1 of the Final Rule as well as applicable FCC Rules.

c\. Each model proposed may include "permitted" features but shall not
include "disqualifying" features set forth in Technical Appendix 2 of
the Final Rule, pursuant to section 301.5(d). If the proposed CECB
includes permitted features, it would assist NTIA's evaluation if the
test results or certificates document how those features operate or have
been implemented.

d\. To assist in NTIA's evaluation of the proposed CECB, NTIA encourages
applicants to include in the test report information such as:

1\. An operational description of each proposed CECB.

2\. A final copy of the proposed manual that will be provided to the end
user.

3\. A list of equipment (complete with calibration data) used by the
manufacturer when performing each of the required tests.

4\. A block diagram showing all the major elements of each proposed
CECB.

5\. A block diagram depicting the equipment used and the measurement
setup for each test.

6\. Internal and external photographs of each proposed CECB. The
photographs should be of sufficient clarity to show the make and model
number on the label, the front panel controls, connection points on the
back panel, internal components and circuit board layouts.

e\. Pursuant to section 301.5(f), reports of test conditions and test
results must be clear and comprehensive so that they can be easily
interpreted by NTIA and others reviewing them. Moreover, in accordance
with section 301.5(g), each test report shall include a certification of
the testing supervisor as to its authenticity, completeness and accuracy
based on personal knowledge. The manufacturer/applicant should also sign
the report certifying that the sample tested is representative of
production units.

**4. Guidance for Shipping Proposed Coupon-Eligible Converter Box
Samples**

Manufacturers are to supply two production sample converter boxes
pursuant to section 301.5(c) of the Final Rule. They are to be shipped
as follows:

*Test samples should NOT be shipped until the applicant receives a
specific authorization from NTIA to ship. A copy of NTIA's shipping
authorization identifying each model to be shipped shall accompany the
samples.*

**Shipping Address**: (Courier Service, Freight, or Air Service)\
DTV Converter Coupon Program

FCC Laboratory

7435 Oakland Mills Road, Gate A

Columbia, MD 21046

Attention: Bill Hurst

Telephone: (301) 362-3000

*Special note to foreign applicants* -- Foreign applicants with United
States subsidiaries or agents should ship equipment to those facilities
for forwarding to the Laboratory. If no American subsidiary is
available, arrangements must be made for clearance of shipment through
U. S. Customs and delivery to the FCC Laboratory. The U.S. Government
will not make delivery arrangements or pay any related charges
associated with shipments.

If the applicant requires notification that the samples have been
received at the FCC Laboratory, the applicant should contact its shipper
for delivery date confirmation.

Pursuant to the regulations, the samples for each proposed CECB shall be
production line samples. Some characteristics that may assist NTIA in
confirming production line samples are: a permanently attached label
showing the make (manufacturer's name or trade name), serial number and
model number. The label information (except for serial number) should
agree with the information shown on the test report. Also, NTIA
encourages applicants to include any accessory that would facilitate
testing and any permitted accessory features proposed by the
manufacturer, such as a 300 ohm connector, a cable with 3 female RCA
connectors, etc.

NTIA does not intend to return the samples to the
manufacturer/applicant.

**5. NTIA Processing**

The manufacturer's report of each proposed CECB will be reviewed for
accuracy and completeness and to determine: (1) if the proposed model
meets the performance specifications in Technical Appendix 1; (2) if the
proposed CECB includes permitted features listed in Technical Appendix
2, that those features function properly; and (3) that the proposed CECB
does not contain a disqualifying feature. NTIA/FCC testing will be
performed on some or all of the models. The level of testing will be
based on engineering judgments during the review of the test report.
Request for additional information, if necessary, may cause delays in
completing an evaluation of a proposed CECB. Reasonable attempts will be
made to expedite review of each proposed CECB, but the applicant should
not contact the Technical Advisor unless the applicant has a valid
technical question.

Pursuant to section 301.5(h) of the Final Rule, NTIA will provide prompt
notification to each manufacturer as to whether the model has met
technical approval. NTIA will maintain a list of approved CECBs to
distribute to consumers and participating retailers.

These procedures are intended to assist in managing the review and
evaluation of each proposed CECB. Additional guidance on testing or
submission procedures may be provided on NTIA web page under Frequently
Asked Questions, pursuant to Section 301.5(e), www.ntia.doc.gov.

Questions about the procedure for submitting samples and test reports
for review and approval may be submitted to:

Art Wall, Technical Advisor

DTV Converter Coupon Program

NTIA/OTIA Room 4809

U.S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20230

Tel: (410) 643-1649

Fax: (202) 482-4626

Email: awall@ntia.doc.gov

**Dated: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Kathy D. Smith**

**Chief Counsel, National Telecommunication and Information
Administration**

[^1]: *See* Rules to Implement and Administer a Coupon Program for
    Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes (Final Rule), 72 FR 12097 (March
    15, 2007).

[^2]: *See* Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L.
    109-171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (Feb. 8, 2006). Section 3002(a) of the Act
    amends Section 309(j)(14)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 so
    that analog full-power television licenses will terminate on
    February 17, 2009. Section 3002(b) of the Act directs the FCC to
    terminate analog television licenses for full-power stations by
    February 18, 2009.

[^3]: ^?^ 47 C.F.R. § 301.5.

[^4]: *See* Final Rule at ¶ 101; *see also* 47 C.F.R. § 301.5(f).

[^5]: Final Rule at ¶ 101.