[Electronics-talk] Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain

[Baracco, Andrew W]

From: "Eric Bridges" <ebridges at acb.org
Subject: [leadership] Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain

The digital television transition has had many bumps along the way.
While the delay will push back the deadline for broadcasters to switch
signals, funding for the coupon converter box program has all but dried
up and is relying upon the passage of the economic stimulus package to
resume subsidizing the approved boxes.  . The article below highlights
the challenges that the government and more importantly, the consumer
will face over the next 4 months.

We continue our work through the Consumer Advisory Committee and the FCC
to address a wide variety of issues ranging from access to televised
emergency information to video description pass-through on digital TV.
Here is a excerpt of the formal remarks that Acting Chairman Copps
expressed to the CAC last Friday.



"This Committee has repeatedly recommended that the FCC convene a
technical working group to address digital closed captioning and video
description issues.

I believe this is again on your Agenda for today.  I have long supported
that proposal, but did not have the ability to act.  Now I do.  So I am
instructing

Commission staff to convene the technical working group as soon as
possible.
The FCC needs to take a leadership role in addressing these problems.  I

don't believe we can finish this important effort before the transition
date.  Had we acted when you first made the recommendation, maybe we
could have.

But this is not the time to cast stones back over our shoulders; it's
time to look forward and commit ourselves to working
together-government, industry,

and consumers-to solving these problems. . . ."





Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain

Shortage of Converter Boxes Predicted



By Kim Hart

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 6, 2009; D03



A day after Congress delayed the nation's transition to all-digital
broadcasts, the Federal Communications Commission is grappling with how
it will handle

calls from confused consumers, broadcasters who want to move ahead early
and the possibility that millions of Americans still could be left
behind.



"While the law gives us a limited amount of additional time, it presents
significant challenges given the longstanding problems that have already
existed,"

FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein said during a meeting to discuss
how to handle the delay.



Broadcasters were scheduled to stop airing analog broadcasts on Feb. 17
to free up airwaves for public safety agencies to build better radio
systems and

for wireless companies to provide new services for consumers. Consumers
who receive television signals over the air or with an antenna will need
a converter

box or a digital television set to get broadcasts.



Last month, Nielsen found that more than 6.5 million households were not
ready for the transition.



But the lack of funding for a program to distribute $40 coupons to
offset the cost of converter boxes, as well as continued consumer
confusion, prompted

Congress to delay the transition until June 12.



The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is
running the coupon program, hit its $1.34 billion funding limit last
month after

sending out more than 47 million coupons. More than 3.7 million
consumers are on the waiting list for coupons.



The economic stimulus package working its way through Congress contains
funding for the coupon program and other preparation efforts. With more
money, the

National Telecommunications and Information Administration expects to be
able to send out nearly 2 million coupons a week, said Tony Wilhelm, the
agency's

consumer education director.



"But by the time stimulus funds are available, the waiting list will be
longer," he said.



FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell said the commission must beef up its
call centers to handle the estimated 3.5 million calls during the
switch.



"Millions and millions of people -- best case scenario -- will still be
left behind," he said.



Adelstein said there might not be enough converter boxes. Some markets,
such as Puerto Rico where 50 percent of the population relies on
over-the-air signals,

are experiencing a shortage in stores.



Broadcasters can turn off analog signals before June 12, but stations
planning do so on Feb. 17 must notify the FCC and viewers by Feb. 9. The
FCC might

not let a station switch early if the other stations in its market are
planning to keep analog signals on the air until June.