Don’t mess with the government when it comes to the DTV transition.

The Federal Communications Commission just fined Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears and other retailers a combined $3.9 million for not properly labeling analog-only TVs that will need converter boxes after the switch to digital broadcasts in 2009.

According to FCC rules, stores must display or affix a “consumer alert” label to analog-only equipment. The FCC says it warned the companies about the violations and potential fines after conducting inspections of 2,200 stores and 36 web sites last June.

The FCC also handed down $2.7 million in fines to companies violating other digital-TV rules that involve shipping analog equipment and blocking such technologies as the V-chip. The companies have 30 days to appeal the fines.

Are retailers really doing their best to keep consumers properly informed about the impending switch? In February, a Massachusetts consumer advocacy group released a study claiming many sales clerks tried to persuade customers to buy new televisions rather than offering the less expensive converter boxes.

For more information on the digital transition, check out these articles:
- Everything You Need to Know About the Digital Transition
- Is My TV a Digital TV?
- The Converter Box Set-Up

(Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.)