Native Students at American Indian Summer Institute (AISI) create three DTV Transition PSAs

Each summer, workshop participants do a group project and this year the students created a public service announcement about the impending transition from analog to digital television next year. The videos are below. Read More ...

FCC to Hold Seventh Indian Telecommunications Initiatives (ITI) Regional Workshop and Roundtable

Washington, DC -- The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its Indian Telecommunications Initiates (ITI), is holding its seventh regional workshop and roundtable in Salt Lake City, UT, on July 16, from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM and July 17 from 7:30 AM to 2:45 PM. It will be held at the Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 South Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84115.

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LPTV Serving Reservation Areas Could Require Special Converter Boxes

If you live on a reservation or in a rural area, find out more about Low Power/Translator Stations that serve those areas.

Watch the FCC Digital Television Education Workshop Focusing on Consumers in Rural Areas and on Tribal Lands

Watch the on-demand video from the worshop

Agenda: Word | Acrobat

Digital TV Coupon Grab Swift Don’t Wait To Get Yours

If you get your television signal over the airwaves, don’t procrastinate to apply for a digital converter coupon.

Just in 18 days that the federal government has made the coupons available, officials have received nearly two million requests for coupons.

“It’s off to a great start and we’re pleasantly surprised with the requests of millions of coupons,” said Todd Sedmak, spokesman for the federal digital converter box program. “Some people will start seeing coupons at the end of February. Other people will start seeing the coupons at the end of March.”

At midnight on Jan. 1, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) starting giving away $40 coupons for a converter box that will allow people to continue watching free TV next year. The federal government is preparing to switch to a new digital over-the-air signal on Feb. 17, 2009. The move will clear the way for 911 and other public safety communications in the now-cluttered airways and also allow for more cellular phone use, and new TV and radio stations.

Before the sun came up on the first day of the new year, more than 9,000 people had made requests. As of Jan. 18, NTIA has received 1.8 million applications. The federal government will make 33.5 million coupons available. The coupons will be delivered by U.S. mail.

And the requests are simple. You can call a toll free number or answer a few questions, such as the number of coupons desired and what kind of TV service you have in your house, online at the NTIA’s DTV Transition and Coupon Program page. The government is limiting two per household. The form can also be mailed or faxed in.

Once you get the coupons, however, be sure to check what the make and model of your television because there are 30 models of converter boxes. In some instances, you may need more than one converter box, depending on how your local televisions stations broadcast their content. Contact the TV station in your area to find out more information on the type of signal to make sure you purchase the correct box. Those who live in rural areas may be especially affected if they receive signals from low-powered stations.

Sedmak also advises people to call the retailer before purchasing to get as much information as possible about the converter boxes before driving to the store or going online to make a purchase. For a list of retailers, go to: www.dtv2009.gov. Digital TV converter boxes can also be purchased from QVC.com and JR.com.

FCC Digital Television Education Workshop Focusing on Consumers in Rural Areas and on Tribal Lands - Live Webcast 1/31/08 - 9 a.m. to Noon ET

Washington, DC -- The Commission has released the agenda for its Digital Television Consumer Education Workshop focusing on consumers in rural areas and on tribal lands to be held Thursday, January 31, 2008, at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th St., SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission Meeting Room. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at approximately 12:00 p.m ET.

The purpose of the Workshop is to provide an opportunity for interested parties to discuss the challenges associated with ensuring that consumers in rural areas and on tribal lands receive and can act on information regarding the upcoming Digital Television transition. The Workshop discussion will also explore ways to develop coordinated consumer education activities. There will also be a demonstration of digital-to-analog converter boxes. An agenda for the Workshop is attached.

A live webcast of the Workshop will be available at the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov/realaudio on a first-come, first-served basis. During the Workshop, the public can e-mail questions for the panelists to dtvworkshop@fcc.gov.

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and include a description of the accommodation you will need with as much detail as possible. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

For more information about the Workshop, please contact Pam Slipakoff at (202) 418-7705, pam.slipakoff@fcc.gov, or Lauren Patrich at (202) 418-7944, lauren.patrich@fcc.gov.

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