Final answer:
The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 ended full-power analog broadcasting by 2009 and allowed low power analog broadcasting until 2015. This transition, mandated by the FCC, was to digital television, enhancing broadcast quality and freeing spectrum for other uses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The act that ceased all full-power analog broadcasting by 2009 and low power analog broadcasting by 2012 is the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. This act mandated the transition from analog to digital television (DTV), with full-power television stations ceasing analog broadcasting by February 17, 2009, which was later extended to June 12, 2009. Low-power stations were allowed to continue broadcasting in analog until September 1, 2015, as they were not bound by the original 2012 deadline.
The transition allowed for the more efficient use of the broadcast spectrum, enabling better-quality picture and sound, and additional programming options with multicasting. It also freed up spectrum for public safety communications and advanced wireless services. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was instrumental in setting the rules and timelines for this transition, ensuring a smooth changeover from analog to DTV for broadcasters and consumers alike.