Why did stations change frequencies?
Congress authorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – the agency that governs the public airwaves – to hold an auction to provide more channels for wireless broadband services. At the end of the auction, the FCC required nearly 1,000 TV stations to change frequencies.
These station transitions began in September 2018 and officially ended on July 3, 2020.
Viewers who watch TV for free with an antenna needed to rescan their TVs or converter boxes after their local stations moved frequencies to continue receiving those channels.
Though the repack officially ended on July 3, many stations continue to work on completing their moves to final facilities.
These stations may be operating at reduced power for a period of time until they complete their transitions, which means they may not be able to reach all viewers until technical work is completed.
Viewers should check their local stations’ websites and social media pages for updates. TV Answers will also continue to inform viewers on stations’ transitions from their temporary to permanent and final facilities. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.
Click here to find out if a local station in your area is continuing to work on completing its transition.
Click the button below to find out if a local station in your area is still working to complete its transition.
