• The Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, May 6, 2009 9:30 AM

The Federal Communications Commission wants broadcasters to replace their regular programming with a public-service ad about the digital transition for three five-minute periods on May 21. "For consumers, it's an opportunity in advance of the transition to get a feel for their level of readiness. For people who think they're ready, it gives them a chance to check," says FCC rep Rick Kaplan.

Local broadcasters have voluntarily conducted similar tests across the country, but this would be the first national test. The test wouldn't apply to stations that have already switched to digital-only.

Some 2 million U.S. households are unprepared for the digital transition, reported the National Association of Broadcasters last Friday. About 3.5 million households remain unprepared, per a recent Nielsen tracking poll.

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