DTV transition: Crisis was averted, but work remains, say CU advocates

[Photo: laura padgett]

The country has avoided a crisis in the transition to all-digital broadcasting, but several issues continue to require high-priority attention from the federal government, according to advocates at Consumers Union, the parent company for Consumer Reports.

Appearing today before the Federal Communications Commission, CU policy analyst Joel Kelsey said the FCC needs to continue to “prioritize education efforts aimed at troubleshooting reception and signal issues.” He cited figures from the recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center showing that some viewers are having difficulty in setting up digital converter boxes and antennas to receive digital signals. Some are also having trouble receiving some channels digitally.

Kelsey also asked the agency to use its “bully pulpit to urge municipal leaders to play a larger part” in efforts to educate consumers about the DTV transition, and to urge retailers to provide a range of converter boxes in rural areas, where consumers often must drive long distances to reach a store.

Finally, after praising the FCC’s walk-in information centers, Kelsey asked the agency to ensure those centers—and others launched in partnership with groups such as AmeriCorps—remain open after June 12th, since some consumers will “inevitably require assistance” after that date. —Paul Reynolds

Comments

[everett whitney]

Judith - " Horror of Seniors / Fixed Incomes.."

Partly true / partly "fixable."

Seniors - - as well as all the rest of us - - MAY obtain the all-new, limited channel offerings from every local cable company!

None will admit it exists, certainly - but - all do have it ... ours is COX, with ~ 22 channels for exactly $11 / mo., NO set top box whatever! Comcast has it for ~ $18, etc..

IN addition, as required by our F.C.C. rules, this ALSO must provide for those w/ new a HDTV, EVERY channel sent in-the-clear INCLUDING all 8 national networks in HD, along with the others in standard digital, again NO set top box ever plus zero added fee.

This is obtained by simply connecting the very cheapest, most-restricted, basic cable service directly to the Cable Terminal @ the HDTV set & scanning or "auto programing" via the internal QAM tuner. I just assisted some fellow Seniors in setting up their new HDTV in this manner, even though the COX rep had told them it was not offered .... these very happy folks NOW watch some (44) channels in perfect clarity, no maintenance, no airplane issues, etc., all for at that $11 /mo..

everett

[Judith]

The horror is in constantly losing your channel everytime an airplane passes. Turning your computer on makes you lose certain channels. It is a constant battle with the antenna picking up the reception. No one position on the antenna picks up all the channels and maintains them. Certain positions pick up certain channels and other positions pick up other channels. So you are constantly playing with the antennas. This makes you or obligates you get basic cable if you want constant clear reception.

For the elderly and/or people on fixed income, I can't imagine the frustration.