Coalition Pledges to Alert Consumers About Transition

[Dale]

The process of educating the public about the shut off of analog television in 2009 has begun in earnest. All analog TV broadcasting from terrestrial towers will come to an abrupt and permanent end on February 17, 2009. At the same time each broadcaster is federally mandated to deliver at least the equivalent digital signal as a replacement for the shut off analog. As you will see from the press release below there are upward of 20 million people who remain entirely dependent upon over-the-air analog television signals. Few of those dependants know anything about the transition. The goal of the coalition is to educate every one who is wholly or partially dependent and insure that they have the physical apparatus needed to receive and decode digital signals-something congress has provisioned for in the form of a converter box subsidy costing one and one half billion dollars.

The Fed's provision for the educational component is a paltry $5,000,000--something you can easily blow before half-time at the Super Bowl. Such a skimpy federal allowance will have to be very efficiently used to attract centers-of-influence who, unaided, can swing public views and opinions.

Once again the familiar name of Richard E. Wiley has appeared in a key leadership role. At no cost to government or public Dick shepherded the H/ DTV standards setting process. After nine arduous years of pro bono work (1987 to 1996) he gave to us the ATSC terrestrial HDTV transmission standard, without which HDTV would not have been launched in this or any other country (besides Japan). Wiley has demonstrated an extraordinary, if not entirely uncanny, talent for leadership throughout his illustrious career. Most every post filled by him has been that of Chairman (including a stint as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission). It is hard to imagine any other with more prestige, related experience, political capital, and personal appeal for leading the public to digital television than you have with Dick Wiley. Such attributes will be critically important when calling upon the voluntary assistance of all the "educators" that will be needed from all walks of life. A call from Dick has always mobilized forces and set armies marching. Being from the law profession Wiley is a neutral and benevolent business force that can cross all boundaries without raising competitive reactions. While Dick may be reluctant to embrace a new post for such a challenging work (he also leads the law firm of Wiley Rein LLC in Washington DC in his "spare" time) by his own admission he has been himself led by a passion for establishing H/DTV. The patriotic component embedded in the transition (Homeland Security gets 25% of the analog frequencies being returned to the FCC for reassignment) will likely prove irresistible to him and to those whom he must call upon. It's a great day when one can do what they love and it is even richer when there is a sense of national duty being also realized.</em> _Dale Cripps


<strong>Countdown to February 2009: Digital Television Transition (DTV) Coalition Pledges to Alert Consumers About Transition
From Analog to Digital TV
</strong>

New Website, <a href="http://www.DTVtransition.org">www.DTVtransition.org</a>, to Help Consumers Navigate the DTV Transition

Washington, D.C.- A diverse coalition including representatives from private industry, trade associations, civil rights organizations and community groups plus the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that they will work together on a comprehensive consumer education campaign to increase...

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2007/02/coalition_pledg.php]Read the Full Article[/url]

[mhbetzer]

People who receive OTA broadcasts also need to be warned, unless they live within site of the transmitter they will need a large outdoor antenna (1950's style). If you have multiple stations in different directions make sure you have a good rotor installed also. These "so called" omni directional antennas are a piece of crap.

[Dale]

Your points are all very valid and for that reason we hope to see Dick Wiley in a strong and commanding lead. His integrity is unquestionable and no detail is too small to be reviewed. I do think everyone involved (at least those with whom we have talked) are clearly aware that no deception of any kind can have a place in the "education" of the consumers. Full disclosure is a must and as press we will continue to hammer that point to those who are lured and seduced by the "expedient." Dale Cripps