FCC Consumer Advisory
Analog to Digital Transition For Wireless Telephone Service

The Analog Cellular Sunset and Who Is Affected

As of midnight on February 18, 2008, cellular telephone companies will not be required to provide analog service. While most wireless telephone users will not be affected by this transition (often called the “analog cellular sunset”), some users may be affected. In addition, the transition could affect some alarm systems and some users of OnStar in-vehicle communications service.

You will not be affected by the transition if you:

• use a digital handset; or
• subscribe to wireless service from Sprint/Nextel or T-Mobile.

You may be affected by the transition if you:

• use an analog-only handset (there are very few of these left in service); and
• receive service from a cellular telephone company, including AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Alltel, US Cellular, and Dobson (and other companies that market their services as “Cellular One”); or if you
• use service that may rely on analog cellular radio equipment, such as an alarm system with a wireless radio link or OnStar service in an older vehicle.

Alarm System Users

The majority of alarm systems installed in homes and businesses do not use a wireless radio signal to connect to a central monitoring station. Some alarm systems, however, use analog radio equipment and send a wireless signal – provided by a wireless telephone company – using the 800 MHz spectrum. These systems are affected by the transition. According to the alarm industry, out of a total 26 million installed alarm systems, there are approximately one million systems that use analog radio equipment. Wireless alarm systems installed before Spring 2006 generally used analog equipment.

There are several ways to tell if your alarm system will be affected by the analog-to-digital transition. Most alarm companies are contacting their affected customers by letter, bill insert, and/or telephone to arrange for replacement installation of a digital alarm radio. In many cases, if you have an analog alarm radio that has not been replaced and the analog wireless network stops operating, the radio will emit a “beep” or warning tone. If you believe your alarm system relies on an analog wireless radio and you haven’t heard from your alarm company, or if you’re unsure about what type of alarm system you have, contact the company to determine your options for maintaining service.

The Analog Cellular Sunset Is Not the Same as the DTV Transition

In addition to the analog-to-digital transition for wireless telephone service, Congress has separately set a deadline of February 17, 2009, for completion of the transition from analog-to-digital television broadcasting. To find out more about the digital television transition, visit our Web site at www.dtv.gov.

For More Information

For more information about this issue or any other telecommunications-related issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554