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

Tue Feb 10 04:28:21 UTC 2009

This isn't aimed at Gerald, since I don't know how active he is in an 
advocacy group, but to follow up Ray's point, I wonder how many people 
who are quick to criticize the NFB, ACB or other advocacy groups are 
doing anything to make a difference themselves. It's easy to sit on the 
side lines and point out what the NFB should or shouldn't have done, but 
it's another thing to actually join up and help influence the priorities 
or policies of the NFB, ACB or any other advocacy group. After all, an 
advocacy group like the NFB is made up of blind people, and it's only as 
strong as it's membership. IMHO, it's kind of hypocritical to say it 
should have done this or it should have fought for this harder when the 
person pointing the finger isn't willing to do much more than criticize.

Ray Foret jr wrote:
> 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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>
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>   

-- 
Christopher

cchaltain at austin.rr.com