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Klobuchar Tells FCC More Must Be Done to Ensure Smooth DTV Transition

Says Consumers Are Not Prepared for Biggest TV Change in Decades

September 23, 2008

Washington, D.C. – At a Commerce Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar called for a greater effort to inform the public about the upcoming change to digital television (DTV).  Noting that less than 150 days remain until the DTV transition date, Senator Klobuchar questioned the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Kevin J. Martin, on consumer awareness efforts regarding coverage and technical issues and on reception problems consumers experienced in the Wilmington, North Carolina test market as a result of that city’s early conversion to DTV.

“The experiment in Wilmington shows that there is still a lot more work to be done.  Both the “digital cliff” effect and gaps in digital coverage surfaced as problems for consumers in Wilmington.” Klobuchar said.  “Based on the Wilmington test market, the FCC estimates that at least one percent of consumers – or approximately 150,000 to 200,000 consumers – across the country may be subject to digital cliffs, and consumers in 15 percent of the markets, may not be able to receive one or more of their existing channels due to significant gaps in the coverage contours of digital stations."

Klobuchar cited a recent study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office showing a low level of consumer preparedness.  This June 2008 survey found that while about 84 percent of people have heard of the transition, consumer knowledge of details of the transition and preparedness was significantly lower.  Tens of millions of TV sets nationwide will be affected by the change to digital broadcasting, including 430,000 households in Minnesota.

After reports of reception problems in Wilmington, NC, Senator Klobuchar wrote a letter to the FCC and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) about digital coverage and reception issues.  Klobuchar noted that many of the people likely to be affected by the digital cliff effect or other coverage problems live in rural areas, the same people who may be the least likely to be able to afford an upgrade to a cable, satellite, or other video provider.

At a Commerce Committee hearing on DTV in April, Senator Klobuchar first raised digital coverage and reception issues to the FCC and NTIA, fearing that some consumers may not be able to receive digital signals even after purchasing a converter box or new digital television without significant antenna upgrades.

Klobuchar has worked to supplement efforts to help consumers understand the switch to DTV.  Earlier this year she partnered with Minnesota-based retailer Best Buy and officials from the Minnesota AARP and the Minnesota Broadcasters Association to help raise awareness of the upcoming switch to DTV.  In April, Senator Klobuchar’s staff made visits to seven Minnesota cities to educate consumers about the transition.  Many of the visits included employees from electronics retailers to explain and demonstrate the switch to DTV.

In July, Senator Klobuchar and her colleague Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) took several steps to aid in the awareness effort.  They co-sponsored a bill designating August as DTV Awareness Month and recorded a public service announcement explaining the DTV transition and how consumers can receive transition help from the government.

Senator Klobuchar has also created a special section on her Senate website here to provide detailed guidance to consumers about the transition, due to take effect on February 17, 2009.

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