Based on the calls to the FCC from viewers in Wilmington, N.C., in the first two days since the market's commercial stations cut off analog TV service, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said this afternoon that the DTV transition in Wilmington, N.C., is "going smoothly."

During the first day of the transition, the FCC said, 797 area residents called the FCC helpline asking questions and seeking help with the switch-over to digital television.

Yesterday, the second day of the transition, the number of calls to the FCC decreased by almost 50 percent to 424, the agency said.

TV stations and Time Warner Cable in Wilmington have received another 250-300 calls, according to various sources in the market.

To get a sense of what might happen on Feb. 17, 2009, when every TV station in the country must cut off its analog signal and rely solely on its digital signal, the four commercial TV stations in Wilmington made the leap to digital last Monday at noon.

"The results of the digital television switch in Wilmington shows that the collective efforts of the Commission, the community and industry to inform viewers of the early transition in this local market were effective," said Martin in a prepared statement.

"The vast majority of Wilmington-area [400,000] viewers were aware of the transition and more than 28,000 converter box coupons were redeemed."

"While we believe that the transition in Wilmington is going smoothly, the measure of success in Wilmington is what is going to happen next February, and what we are able to learn from this experience and how we apply those lessons as we move this effort across the country," Martin said.

The FCC and its local partners are providing assistance to Wilmington-area residents who call the agency's toll-free DTV helpline (877-388-0908).

In addition to the call center, Martin has assembled teams of FCC engineers and outreach staff to assist Wilmington-area callers with their individual questions and needs.

The 400,000 viewers in the Wilmington area represent an estimated 180,000 households, of which nearly 14,000 receive free over-the-air television programming with roof-top antennas or "rabbit-ears."

Based on calls to the FCC helpline through the first day, most consumers were aware of and ready for the transition, the FCC said.

The Commission's helpline received just 23 calls from consumers who said they were not aware of the switch to digital television and/or did not know the date of the transition.

A significant number of consumers who called the helpline with converter box, reception or other technical issues have already had their issues resolved.

Specifically, more than 160 calls were from viewers who had initial difficulty in setting up their converter boxes properly.

For example, consumers had difficulty understanding the instructions for setting up the converter box and scanning for channels.

Seventy-five of these consumers were successfully guided through the installation process by call-takers and were able to view channels after re-scanning their televisions.

Of the total number of calls to the helpline, 178 were by viewers who were experiencing problems with their television reception or had other technical issues.

The FCC said it was able to resolve reception and other technical issues for 22 of the 178 consumers by explaining where the broadcasters' new digital channels are located, helping them re-scan channels or by assisting them with re-positioning or adjusting their antennas.

A significant number of calls (232) were related to the viewer's inability to locate the Wilmington NBC affiliate, Raycom Media's WECT.

Prior to the digital switch, WECT's signal was available to viewers outside the television market as far south as Myrtle Beach, S.C. and as far north as Raleigh, N.C.

The Wilmington NBC affiliate's digital coverage from a different tower does not include these out-of-market communities.

The following is an overview and analysis of the 797 calls received by the FCC on the first day after the analog cut-off:

CONSUMERS NOT AWARE OF THE TRANSITION: 23

• Not aware of the switch to DTV—9
• Not aware of the correct transition date-5
• Not aware the stations they watch would switch—9

CONSUMERS WHO WERE AWARE BUT DID NOT ACT: 67

• Forgot to upgrade-24
• Unable to attain assistance to upgrade-4
• Relied on another member of their household to upgrade—3
• Waited too long to buy or set up a converter box—31
• Out of town or too busy or knew they could do it later—5

CONSUMERS WHO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CONVERTER BOX COUPON PROGRAM: 87

• Coupon did not arrive in time—27
• Wanted coupon or had not received coupon from NTIA—59
• Retail store was out of boxes—1

CONSUMERS WHO HAD INITIAL DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR | More …