The FCC is reported to be preparing new guidelines for educating the public about the digital transition a year from now.

The current guidelines require public notices about the transition to closely follow a script. Both broadcasters and consumer groups have complained that the lack of flexibility is actually hindering the ability to get the message out effectively.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has drafted its own set of guidelines that provide more flexibility in the education campaign, and the FCC is said to be preparing to give the entire broadcast industry the option of conforming to guidelines likely to be the same or similar to the ones proposed by the NAB.

Viewers who get their TV exclusively from cable and satellite will not be affected by the digital transition, but the cable industry is voluntarily running its own education program about the transition. According to some reports, the new guidelines would compel MSOs to formally notify their subscribers about the transition once a month.

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