On June 12, 2009, while Markey was serving in the US House of Representatives, all full power broadcast television stations began transmitting 100% digitally, and as a result, most analog TV transmission became a thing of the past. This switch to an all-digital transmission format, called DTV, freed up valuable spectrum for use by first responders and safety personnel, as well as by the wireless industry to promote innovation and competition for consumers. This transition brought important improvements to our national security and technology industries, but first Markey worked to ensure that all consumers are aware of the upcoming switch.