FCC Chairman Kevin Martin updated Congress today on the commission's progress toward next year's switch-over to digital TV broadcasting.

Martin has circulated a proposal to the commissioners that would require broadcasters to use PSAs and screen crawls throughout the day, including during the primetime hours, to inform viewers about the transition and to publicly report on these education efforts on a quarterly basis.

He also noted during his remarks that that the commission is “evaluating” the “safe-harbor” proposal submitted to it by the NAB last Friday that, if accepted by the commission, would automatically put stations adopting it in compliance with those educational requirements. He said the commission “hopes to finalize this item quickly.”

The NAB plan would have stations file a form quarterly with the commission documenting broadcasters' DTV education efforts on their analog and primary digital channels.

These efforts would include:

Action Spots: Average of 16 action spots per week, reported to the FCC in quarterly reports. Spots aired by stations, networks, and/or syndicators count toward fulfilling the commitment. Each :30 spot counts as “1” and two :15 spots count as “1.”

Crawls, snipes and/or tickers: Stations will run an average of 16 crawls, snipes and/or tickers per week, reported to the FCC in quarterly reports.

30-minute program: Stations will air a minimum of one 30-minute informational program between 8 a.m. and 11:35 p.m., Monday through Sunday, on the digital television transition before Feb. 17, 2009. Stations will be encouraged to air additional 30-minute programs.

100 Day Countdown: Beginning on Nov. 10, 2008 (100 days from Feb. 17, 2009) stations throughout the country will begin reminding viewers that the transition date is approaching. The “countdown” will complement and add a sense of urgency to the other DTV messaging that is being delivered.

As to the FCC's own consumer outreach effort, Martin said “it places an emphasis on consumers who receive their television signals ‘over-the-air' and on those who are hard to reach and may be unaware of the upcoming transition, including senior citizens; non-English speaking and minority communities; people with disabilities; low-income individuals; and people living in rural and tribal areas.”

Other points in Martin's status report to the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet included noting that the number of Americans who are aware of the upcoming analog-to-digital transition “is up 80 percent since 2006, according to CEA, and has more than doubled since 2007, reports NAB.

And recent surveys published by NAB and Consumers Union found 79 percent and 64 percent of consumers were aware of the transition respectively.

"That more and more viewers are aware of the transition is a step in the right direction. However, the Consumers Union also found that 74 percent of consumers have “major misconceptions” about the impact of the transition on them. In other words, too many Americans remain confused about what they need to do to prepare for it. Taken together, these surveys are valuable research tools to better guide our education and outreach efforts over the next 12 months.”

Martin also updated the congressmen on broadcasters' progress toward the switch.

“Currently, more than 95 percent of full power television stations are broadcasting a digital signal," he said.

"Nearly two-thirds of full power stations (1,180) will remain on the same channel they are currently using for digital service. The majority of these stations, over 850, have completed construction and are providing full service to their viewers. The remainder, roughly 300, are working on completing construction of their full service facilities. One-third of full power stations, (roughly 600, are changing channels for their operation after the transition), and are currently filing construction permit applications with the commission, ordering equipment, and scheduling tower crews.”

Other areas of concern the chairman addressed included cable and satellite carriage of digital signals.