TV Antenna Viewers in Multiple Communities Affected
Phase 9 of the broadcast spectrum repack is coming to a close with more than 40 TV stations across the country scheduled to change frequencies by this Friday, May 1. The number of stations transitioning in Phase 9 has been reduced by almost 50 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as many delayed their transitions to avoid service interruptions during the crisis.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring nearly 1,000 TV stations across the country to change frequencies to make room for more wireless services. As a result, viewers in the affected communities must rescan their TVs as soon as their stations have completed the transition to continue to get their local channels. Approximately 85 percent of the total stations have already transitioned.
If you use an antenna to access free, over-the-air television and live in any of the communities listed below, you need to rescan your TV or converter box to ensure you’re getting all available stations in your area. Rescanning your TV is free and relatively fast using your TV remote, but to be effective the rescan must occur after the station completes its frequency change. If your local station is expected to transition this week, make a #PlanToRescan this Saturday, May 2, and don’t forget to help out any neighbors or family members who might need assistance.
Keep in mind that multiple TV stations may move at different times in the same community, so you may have to rescan more than once. You can enter your zip code here to find out if and when local stations are transitioning. You can also sign up for free text and email alerts to be reminded when a TV rescan is required.
One or more stations in each of these communities have either already changed frequencies since March 14 or are scheduled to do so by May 1:
| Champaign and Springfield-Decatur, IL |
| Chico-Redding, CA |
| Columbus, OH |
| Denver, CO |
| Detroit, MI |
| Duluth, MN-Superior, WI |
| Gainesville, FL |
| Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, NC |
| Huntsville-Decatur-Florence, AL |
| Jacksonville, FL |
| Macon, GA |
| Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, FL |
| Paducah, KY-Cape Girardeau, MO-Harrisburg-Mt Vernon, IL |
| Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA |
| San Antonio, TX |
| San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA |
| Savannah, GA |
| Victoria, TX |
| Washington, DC-Hagerstown, MD |
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