NTIA announced today an award of $2.7 million to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) to help seniors transition to digital television through the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. Full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts after February 17, 2009.

Secretary Gutierrez Urges Action in the Three Months Before Digital Transition Conclusion: U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez released a statement on the three-month mark before all full-power TV broadcasters will switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009, that encourages all households using antennas with analog TVs to take action.

Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee Meeting: NTIA announced a public meeting of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (Committee), which provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum management matters, on December 4, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, at the United States Department of Commerce in Washington, DC.

Commerce’s NTIA Releases TV Converter Box Coupon Program Request Rate by TV Market with 100 Days Until Digital TV Transition Concludes: NTIA today announced updated participation rates by television market and that 62 percent of all over-the-air households, those that rely on an antenna for broadcast TV, have requested coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.

Today NTIA released the new application form to allow residents of state-licensed nursing homes and assist living facilities to request a TV Converter Box Coupon. The Final Rule waiver was published in the Federal Register on September 19 and goes into effect on October 20.

In a Federal Register Notice of Inquiry published today, NTIA is inviting comments regarding Internet Domain Name and Addressing System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) implementation at the root zone. Comments are due on November 24, 2008.

In a Federal Register public notice published today, NTIA announces that it will hold public meetings regarding the implementation of the Low-power Television Upgrade Program in Washington, D.C., on October 24, 2008, and in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 28, 2008.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the NTIA today announced a proposal to make available more than $40 million in grants to help states and territories improve their 9-1-1 call centers. The grants were authorized by the ENHANCE 9-1-1 Act.