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

Mon Feb 9 21:48:31 UTC 2009

I still hear from people in the general public "Well, you're blind so you 
can't get anything out of watching TV or going to a movie," or they become 
flustered after making a comment about my going to a movie or watching TV.
Chuck
----- 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 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain


> Jerald, if you're up to making just a little effort to do your own 
> research,
> you'd notice that the NFB has been asking for at least two years for
> accessible boxes and this year, urging film makers to include DVS as part 
> of
> the film production process.  But, I guess you're just too much not the 
> type
> to bother to get your facts straight before spouting the nonsense you just
> did!!!
>
> Ray
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 1:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Despite Delay for DTV, FCC Concerns Remain
>
>
>
> 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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