[Electronics-talk] Digital TV Transition

[Baracco, Andrew W]

I read that C. Crane is developing a radio that will receive digital TV.
But as for the broader issue, this is all the more reason why the blind
community must support the 21st century Telecommunications and Video
Accessibility Act.  It was HR-6320 in the last Congress, and will be
reintroduced in the new Congress very soon.  Among its provisions is one
that would mandate that on screen menus for such devices as TV's and
cable boxes be accessible to the visually impaired.

Watch for the bill.

Andy
 

-----Original Message-----
From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Levy
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:20 AM
To: Electronics Talk
Subject: [Electronics-talk] Digital TV Transition


Hi listers.  As most of you are aware, The FCC has mandated that TV
broadcasters switch from analog broadcasts to digital on Feb. 17.  Many
of us use small portable radios with built-in TV tuners to listen to the
audio portion of the analog TV signal.  However, after Feb. 17, these
will no longer work.  From what I can determine, the cheapest digital
TVs currently available cost at least $150, and require sighted
assistance to navigate their inaccessible set-up and options menus.  And
the digital TV converter boxes that are currently being offered that
connect to analog TV sets to convert digital signals into analog format
also have menus which are totally inaccessible.  And there are presently
no radios available with built-in Digital TV tuners, and probably won't
be any time soon.  Why hasn't more attention been paid to this issue,
which could have a profound and devastating impact on the lives of
thousands of blind folks?

Gerald
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