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

[Gerald Levy]

Yeah, and the blindness advocacy groups are not ready either.  They had 
plenty of time to push for accessible DTV converter boxes and more 
descriptive programming , but chose to do nothing.  So don't blame blind 
folks for complaining about the digital TV transition.

Gerald
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain


> What a bunch of crap!!!
>
>
> Look, let's face it.  The switch is going to happen; like it or not. 
> People
> have had a long time to get ready!  There is a certain party, (which shall
> remain nameless) that likes to trot out the poor and the elderly and the
> disabled and say that they need extra help or else their world will all 
> but
> come to an end.  There are some blind people, (they know who they are) who
> seem always to want something for nothing.  They want the entire world to 
> be
> accessible to them just because they're blind.  Well, guess what y'all? 
> We
> live in a sight oriented world.  That's just the way it is.  None of us 
> can
> use the blindness excuse (and that's just exactly what it is) or the
> financial excuse either.  We've all known for years that this was coming.
> We've had ample time (indeed, more than ample) time to prepare!!!  If 
> we're
> not ready now, it's not the governments fault; rather, it's the fault of
> those who are not ready.  It's just as simple as that.  Quick whining, get
> off your tails and go to your nearest favorite electronic store and get a
> blasted box or subscribe to cable or satellite.
>
> Ray
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Baracco, Andrew W" <Andrew.Baracco at va.gov>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 9:51 AM
> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
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