News and Events

WASHINGTON—The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that with two months until the transition to digital television concludes, 76 percent of all households that rely on television with an antenna have requested coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  Based on self-reporting, 11 million households have requested coupons out of 14.3 million that Nielsen says rely on TV over-the-air.  The program helps households switch to digital television when full-power TV broadcasters transition from analog to 1

WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that more than 40 million coupons have been requested, and more than 16 million coupons have been redeemed, to date, from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.

WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today hosted more than 25 federal agencies to further coordinate efforts to educate vulnerable Americans about the February 17, 2009, deadline to transition to digital television and the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  To date, more than 20 million households have requested more than 39 million coupons and redeemed more than 16 million coupons since the program opened on January 1, 2008.

WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today applauded EDUCAUSE’s actions to introduce Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in the .EDU top-level domain.  EDUCAUSE is responsible for the management of .EDU through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Commerce.  

WASHINGTON—The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded today $1.65 million to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) to help vulnerable populations transition to digital television with the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. Coupons should be requested by the end of the year for consumers to be prepared when full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts after February 17, 2009—88 days from today.

Remarks of Meredith Attwell Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce
(As Prepared)

The Media Institute’s Communications Forum
November 20, 2008 - Washington, D.C.

Introduction

Thank you, Dick, for everything you’ve done and thanks for that kind introduction.  I am delighted to be here, especially on a day of particular historical significance for defenders of the First Amendment. 

WASHINGTON—The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today an award of $2.7 million to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) to help seniors transition to digital television through the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  Full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts after February 17, 2009.

WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced updated participation rates by television market and that 62 percent of all over-the-air households, those that rely on an antenna for broadcast TV, have requested coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  The program helps households switch to digital television when full-power TV broadcasters transition from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009--100 days from today.

Remarks of Meredith Attwell Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce
(As Prepared)

142nd Annual Convention of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
Cromwell, Connecticut
November 14, 2008

Introduction

Thank you, Ed, for that kind introduction.  I am delighted to be here today and to have the privilege to address the 142nd Annual Convention of the National Grange.

WASHINGTON--Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking public comments regarding the deployment of Domain Name and Addressing System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) into the Internet’s DNS infrastructure, including the authoritative root zone.   Comments are due by November 24, 2008.  The Notice of Inquiry is available online at www.ntia.doc.gov.

Challenges of International Cooperation
Plenary Session Keynote Speech of NTIA Acting Assistant Secretary Meredith Attwell Baker
(As prepared)

October 7, 2008

Introduction

WASHINGTON–The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announced today that “over-the-air” television viewers who want to participate in the TV Converter Box Coupon Program should apply for coupons before the end of the year to minimize the chances of losing TV reception when full-power broadcasters switch to digital.  Full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009.

Maximum Service Television (MSTV) 22nd Annual Fall Television Conference
Keynote Speech of NTIA Acting Assistant Secretary Meredith Attwell Baker
(As Prepared)

Monday, September 22, 2008

Introduction

Thank you, David, for that introduction.  It is an honor to be here today and participate in this exchange of views and insights on perhaps the most significant achievement in the evolution of television broadcasting technology.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today on behalf of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding the transition to digital television (DTV) and NTIA’s implementation of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program (Coupon Program). Educating Americans about their options when full-power television stations cease analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, and administering an efficient and consumer friendly Coupon Program have been top priorities for NTIA over the past eight and one-half months.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez announced today that residents of licensed nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities and households that use a post office box for mail delivery will be eligible to request coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The rule change takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

To maximize coupon distribution, NTIA is seeking statutory flexibility to use, if necessary, available funds from other programs funded by the DTV Transition and Public Safety Act to cover administrative costs of the Coupon Program.

WASHINGTON — As Wilmington prepares to be the first market to transition from analog to digital television on September 8, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that more than 36,000 Wilmington households have requested 67,000 coupons and redeemed 25,000 from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  More than 17,000 of these households rely on television with an antenna, according to coupon applications. 

WASHINGTON - The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that nearly 6.4 million “over-the-air” TV households, those that rely on an antenna for broadcast TV, have requested about 12 million coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The program helps households switch to digital television when full-power TV broadcasters switch from analog to 100 percent digital broadcasts in six months.

Remarks of Meredith Attwell Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary, NTIA
(As Prepared)

Progress and Freedom Foundation Aspen Summit
St. Regis Resort, Aspen, Colorado
Welcome Reception, August 17, 2008

Introduction

Thank you, Ken.  It is a great pleasure to be here, and an honor to be the first to take a stab at answering the provocative question of the Summit’s theme:  “Unlocking Innovation:  Has the Key been Misplaced?”

WASHINGTON- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that the TV Converter Box Coupon Program has certified more than 150 converter boxes, including 63 that enable viewers to watch both analog broadcasts from low-power television stations and digital programs from full-power television stations. To date, more than 6.3 million converters have been purchased using a $40 coupon from the Program.