[blparent] A digital TV problem

[Robert Shelton]

Hi Karla and list.  Yep, I enjoy using a TV radio and was wondering if it
would work after the transition to digital 
TV -- guess not.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Karla Hudson [mailto:HudsonKC at msu.edu] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:08 PM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] A digital TV problem

Hi list, 

I know this is not exactly a blind parent issue.  However, it is a issue
that might impact blind individuals.  Do any of you use a TV radio?  You
know the band on your radio that gets TV stations 2-13.  Well, I might  be
old fashioned but I still use a TV radio.  I do not like my kids to see the
evening news as I feel there is nothing educational for them to see during
the news.  Anyway, that is an entirely different topic.

I have discovered that with the digital TV transition that my TV part of my
radio will no longer work.  I contacted the FCC but they all think I am some
kind of alien.  Most have never heard of a TV radio.  I am wondering if this
is going to be an issue for any other blind individuals and if the blindness
organizations are addressing this in anyway.  Some have suggested that I
connect a digital box to my Radio.  This takes away the mobility of the
radio.  Also, two of our radio's happen to be shower radio types which would
be impossible to connect to a box.  

Let me know if anyone has found this situation to be as frustrating as I
have during this transition.  I feel as though I am the overlooked
population.