close this window
DTV Transition Crisis Looms, Senator Says
The digital television switchover may rival the current financial markets crisis weighing on Americans’ minds, Sen. Daniel Inouye warned Tuesday.
“While federal agencies and industry have stepped up their efforts, I continue to be concerned that they are not fully prepared for the flood of coupon requests and calls that we can expect just before and after the transition,” Inouye said at an oversight hearing on the DTV transition. ”February 17 will be the 29th day of the next administration. The DTV transition has the potential to cause serious disruption not just to consumers, but to a new president who will just be getting his feet wet. Neither a President Obama nor a President McCain should have to deal with a failed transition, so soon after coming into office.”
As the current Bush administration winds down, both the National Telecommunications and Information Association — which is overseeing the DTV education and coupon program effort — and the Federal Communications Commission must “remain vigilant,” he said, so that the next administration does not inherit a “communications crisis. We have too many crises facing us at the moment.”
Inouye, D-Hawaii, is chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin testified that he was encouraged by the digital switchover conducted two weeks ago in Wilmington, N.C., the nation’s official test market — and previously reported by Miller-McCune.com – but agreed with Inouye that more funding to educate viewers about the transition was needed: about $20 million worth.
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo called the overall effort “outstanding,” but “we still had residents who went dark.”
Local municipalities needed to be ready to respond to seniors who had trouble hooking up their digital-to-analog converter boxes or scanning channels, Saffo said.
The NTIA has requested more money for its coupon program due to an expected “surge” in demand — and for running out of coupons as too many people who signed up in areas who didn’t actually need them because they are hooked up to cable or satellite TV.
Earlier:
Notes From the Digital Switchover
Pulling the Plug on TV As We Know It
Digital Television Guinea Pig Spotted
Nation Not Yet Tuning in Digital Television
word on the street
more in this section
Gender Wage Gap Skewed By Survey Flaws
‘Orcas as Slaves’ Argument Sinks
The Perceived Delicacy of the Female Conductor
Prop Planes: The Future of Eco-Friendly Aviation?
House Puts Transportation in Partisan Crossfire
A Perennial Epicenter, Now for Same-Sex Marriage
Prop 8 May Be Same-Sex Couples’ Least Worry
EarthScope: A Seismic Shift in Data Gathering
Pressure to Conform Can Inspire Creativity
Learning to Read When a School System Falters
also by this author
William YellesWilliam Yelles' eight years at The Hollywood Reporter Online included breaking countless news stories and winning a Neal Award for best Web s...
The Real Financial Crisis Hasn’t Hit YetThe ‘star’ of a new documentary on the national debt says the deficit is still the even bigger threat to our financial house.
Receive 1 year (6 issues) of our print magazine for just $14.95. Miller-McCune features polished, in-depth reports on research and solutions across the policy spectrum — from health care, education and energy to international affairs, poverty and the global economy. It's a must read for well-informed and solutions-driven individuals.
follow us on:
join our newsletter:
from the source
A lot of people say they watch the Super Bowl mostly for the ads. But it turns out a good game surrounding those ads makes them seem better.
After decades of obstacles hindering the voting process, new laws will allow overseas and military voters to submit their votes in time for the 2012 election.
World health leaders announce coordinated push to eradicate or control neglected tropical diseases.
A survey of award-winning children’s picture books from 1938 to 2008 suggests our increasing estrangement from the natural environment.
Rather than moaning about too many cars on the road, the Ridesharing Institute says the real key to battling traffic congestion and pollution is filling empty passenger seats.
