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1 DAY UNTIL DTV TRANSITION
Focus at End of Technological Transition Is On People
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2009
NEWS
MEDIA CONTACT:
FCC:
DTV Media Hotline 202-418-1013
or 202-418-7917
Email:dtvcountdown@fcc.gov
Department
of Commerce: Parita
Shah, 202-482-4883 Email:
pshah@doc.gov
WASHINGTON—On the eve of an historic technological
transition to digital television, the focus for the two federal
agencies managing the switch is on helping Americans who are
at risk of losing their TV signals.
The digital TV (DTV) transition began over two decades ago
as engineers set an ambitious technological goal: moving broadcast
television into the digital age. Efficient digital technology
would provide consumers with a better picture and sound and
more channels, while at the same time clearing valuable airwaves
to meet the explosive demand for advanced wireless services,
including first-responder radio.
The transition also had a policy goal: to make the switch
with as little disruption to the public as possible. That’s
why the Federal Communications Commission and the Commerce Department’s
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
are intently focused on making sure as few people as possible
lose access to the valuable news, information and entertainment
programming they count on.
Just as the transition is an unprecedented engineering feat,
it also involves an unprecedented community outreach effort
by the agencies to households most affected by the transition. Those
households include low-income families, senior citizens, minority
and non-English speaking households and people with disabilities.
“In any change this big, there are going to be disruptions,” said
FCC Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps. “We are trying
our best to provide people, especially those who are most at-risk,
with the help they need to make the switch as smoothly as possible. And
we’re going to keep offering it after June 12, so people
should call us at 1-888-CALL-FCC.”
“The nation’s DTV transition is a tremendous undertaking,” said
NTIA Acting Administrator Anna M. Gomez. “The overwhelming
majority of Americans are prepared, but despite our best efforts,
some will lose television service tomorrow. Consumers should
know that even after June 12, they can still apply for coupons
to help them purchase TV converter boxes.”
Outreach and resources offered by the two
agencies include:
- Distribution of 59 million $40 coupons for TV converter
boxes
- Redemption of nearly 31 million coupons
- Continued availability of TV converter box coupons for
consumers who apply up until July 31, while supplies
last, at www.dtv2009.gov, 1-888-DTV-2009, and also by fax
and mail
- Establishment of over 600 walk-in centers providing hands-on
help
- Assistance for consumers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
through Communication Services for the Deaf at 1-877-388-4968,
1-877-889-4279 (TTY), 1-866-351-1950 (video phone), 1-888-CALL-FCC,
and www.c-s-d.org
- Capacity for up to 200,000 home installations of converter
boxes by FCC contractors
- Home installation of converter boxes by AmeriCorps volunteers
in 30 markets
- In-home installation available from 57 fire departments
nationwide
- In-home and walk-in services available through June, and
in some cases, through July
- Toll-free call center, 1-888-CALL-FCC, which expanded to
24-hour operations yesterday, with 4,000 agents on duty over
the next few days
- Over 200 FCC employees sent to every state and every market
in the country to educate the public about preparing for
the transition
- Help with applying for coupons and installing converter
boxes for more than 350,000 consumers in more than 180 cities
provided by NTIA grantees, the Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) and the National Association
of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), plus coupon donation programs
in over 30 cities
- Over 50 visits by FCC Commissioners and Department of Commerce
officials to markets nationwide
- Upgraded www.dtv.gov has received more than 24 million
hits in May alone, providing consumer-friendly information
about the transition
- Reception information searchable by zip code at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/
- Helpful “DTV Made Easy” brochure by Consumer’s
Union, which became the most popular document on the DTV
Website at http://www.dtv.gov/imagesnew/home_ban_cu_brochure.jpg
- Extensive media outreach in home stretch, reaching 5,000
media outlets with releases detailing local statistics and
events, satellite media tours reaching 18 target markets,
radio actualities reaching 5,000 stations, daily “countdown” releases
generating press coverage, radio PSAs in English, Spanish,
Vietnamese, Korean, Simple Chinese, and more
- Engagement of more than 1300 community-based organizations
serving at-risk populations to educate consumers on DTV readiness
- Collaboration with hundreds of local elected officials
serving at-risk populations to ensure their constituents
know about the extensive help available to get ready
- NTIA’s Mobile Assistance Centers – DTV clinics
on wheels –at more than 211 events, helping close to
38,000 consumers with more than 5,700 coupon applications
and distributing 31,000 pieces of information
Resources for reporters covering the DTV transition are available
in the DTV Media Toolkit at http://www.dtv.gov/media_toolkit.html
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