The broadcasting industry is unveiling a major education campaign Monday intended to give television viewers information about the impending 2009 transition to digital TV.

The effort is the broadcasters’ answer to mounting congressional concerns that not enough is being done to prepare consumers for the mandatory Feb. 17, 2009, switch to digital-only TV. An estimated 20 million households that rely on over-the-air television and have not replaced their TV sets in recent years will need conversion boxes to see broadcast stations once the changeover occurs. Analog TV owners, many of whom are poor or elderly, will have to apply for government-subsidized $40 coupons to cover the digital converter boxes. Cable and satellite subscribers will not be affected.

The education campaign will be the broadcasting lobby’s top priority for the next year and a half, National Association of Broadcasting officials have said.

Broadcasters are expected to exceed, or at least match, a $200 million DTV ad blitz launched by the cable industry in early September. While the two sectors of the TV industry both belong to the 120-member DTV Transition Coalition, they are airing separate digital TV education spots.

The campaign is beginning just in advance of House and Senate hearings this week on preparations for the DTV changeover. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation panel and a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will bring in regulators and interest groups Wednesday for progress reports on consumer education.