Sep. 25, 2008 - Markey: DTV Deadline Approaching, Too Many Consumers Potentially Left Out
Energy and Commerce Committee Members Call on FCC to Take Immediate Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing concerns that millions of Americans may not be able to receive over-the-air digital TV signals, even with a digital converter box, without proper antenna placement, a bipartisan group of House Energy and Commerce Committee members are calling on the Federal Communications Commission to take immediate action to expand consumer education efforts.
Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), chairman of the
House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, joined Chairman John D.
Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), and ten other members, to set out a
list of specific actions they want the FCC to take in order to inform the public
about the proper equipment needed to receive digital television signals before
the DTV transition takes place in February 2009.
Rep. Markey said, "DTV consumer education efforts must
extend to informing the public about how to overcome possible reception
difficulties. National studies predict that without a correctly-orientated
external antenna, a significant number of over-the-air only households may loose
television channel reception even with a digital converter box. Americans know
a change is coming to their TV sets, but they need to be fully aware of how to
receive the new signal, or else this transition will be a disaster for millions
of families."
The members' letter asks the FCC to take the following
actions:
Establish a public/private/non-profit sector
information campaign which focuses on the need for new antennas or adjustments
to existing antennas to receive digital TV broadcast signals,
Encourage Americans to act now to buy and
install a DTV converter box, test the reception, and then take action to resolve
any problems as soon as possible,
Update information on the FCC's website and
other related government DTV websites to include in an obvious, accessible
location a clear explanation of antenna matters, and
Expand the FCC's call center, especially in
the weeks immediately proceeding the transition, to address questions concerning
antenna matters.
