A report from telecom
watchdog Teletruth warns that the switch-over to digital TV broadcasting could
be a mess for people in rural fringe areas.
Description:
As the federal government claims success in its test-drive of the
transition to digital TV broadcasting, a new report from telecom
watchdog Teletruth says otherwise, warning that the switch-over could
be a mess for people in rural fringe areas who aren't paying for
cable or satellite.
Feb 2009 - many US TVs could go blank. Help your community face the "DTV Transition" when old televisions stop working and people have to buy new tech. CivilRights.org offers flyers in 5 languages, talking points, presentations, sample letters and more.
Description:
What will happen in February 2009 when broadcasters stop their old TV signals? How can we make sure people are not shut out?
Help your community face the "DTV Transition" when old televisions stop
working and people have to buy new tech. CivilRights.org offers flyers
in 5 languages, talking points, presentations, sample letters and more.
Other [link::online DTV resources::http://www.civilrights.org/dtv] include videos, articles, reports and more explaining what's happening with digital television and what you can do about it.
introduction to potential social impact of 2009 DTV transition
Author:
Mitchell Szczepanczyk / Chicago Media Action
Description:
This article outlines DTV transition issues such as set-top boxes, access to cable/satellite, economic impact on the poor, digital divide and information blackout for communities or individuals. The FlowTV is a critical forum on television and media culture and the website offers resources for those interested in media content and delivery through television.
The Association for Progressive Communications presents a new issue paper focused on the Latin American reality.
DIGITAL TELEVISION AND RADIO: Democratisation or greater concentration?
By Gustavo Gómez Germano
Digitalisation of media is an approaching reality for Latin American countries. This technologic paradigm shift promises more democratic and diverse access to radio and TV frequencies. However, there is also a great risk of reproducing the same inequalities and power relations that exist in the “analogue” world and thus of media being in the hands of a few. This paper illustrates the political and regulatory implications of an apparently technical and thus neutral phenomenon. It also suggests advocacy priorities to create a more informed and active civil society.
Resources explaining the relationship between spectrum allocation and FCC analog auction to digital television transition.
Description:
(excerpt) In 1996, President Clinton and Congress handed the nation’s
television broadcasters billions of dollars’ worth of the public
airwaves for free to make the transition from analog to digital
broadcasting.
In exchange for this windfall, the broadcasters were supposed to
complete the digital television (DTV) transition by the end of 2006 —
and return some of their old analog spectrum to the government. But they’ve been slow to make the switch, so last year Congress set a “hard date” of February 17, 2009.
The DTV transition will allow the broadcasters to “multicast”
several channels where they now have only one. But these digital
channels take up less space on the radio spectrum than the old analog
channel did....
A glossary of terms and other resources to understand digital tv technology. Go to FAQ link at site for information regarding DTV transition and what it means for consumers.
The NTIA Digital-to-Analog Converter Box
Coupon Program and Digital TV transition information.
Description:
Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S.
households will be eligible to request up to two coupons,
worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up
to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes, while the
initial $990 million allocated for the program is available.
Date:
Sept 2007
NTIA - Nat'l Telecommunications and Information Administration (U.S.)
