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Digital Divide
Low Powers Seek $450M in DTV Aid
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 12, 2008 - 7:33amThe Community Broadcasters Association is asking Congress for $450 million to make the conversion to digital as soon as possible, saying that many in the industry face bankruptcy and potential ruin due to government policies.
Small TV stations lose appeal
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 12, 2008 - 7:33amThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has denied a request from owners of thousands of low-power television stations to force a ban on government-subsidized converter boxes that can't display their signals.
Bad Weather Would Postpone Wilmington Test
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 12, 2008 - 7:32amWilliam Saffo, mayor of Wilmington (NC), told C-SPAN Friday that he has assurances from Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin that if a hurricane or serious storm threatens his city, the commission will postpone the planned Sept.
FCC Confirms DTV Test Market
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:12amOn Thursday Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin confirmed that Wilmington, North Carolina, will be the first market to test the transition to digital television (DTV) in advance of the nationwide transition to DTV on February 17, 2009.
11 Florida Stations Plan Joint Digital Test
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:11amEleven TV stations in central Florida have banded together to run a test designed to flush out viewers who are not technologically prepared for the congressionally mandated nationwide switch to digital television on Feb.
Baker: NTIA Can Allow Reapplication for Coupons
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:10amActing National Telecommunications and Information Administration head Meredith Attwell Baker said Thursday that the NTIA has the authority to allow consumers to reapply for digital-TV-to-analog converter-box coupons, which expire after 90 days.
Dish Ready to Supply Boxes in Wilmington, N.C.
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:09amSatellite operator Dish Network took the opportunity of the Federal Communications Commission's announcement of a market pulling the plug on analog TV to put in a plug for its low-cost converter box. Dish said it will have its new DTV-to-analog converter boxes (priced at $39.99) available in the Wilmington, N.C., market in time for the planned Sept. 8 date for pulling the plug on analog by the network affiliates there.
Sadusky: DTV Transition will be 'Y2K' Non-event
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:07amThe CEO of LIN Television says cable or satellite subscribers will be unaffected by TV stations' analog cut-off next February and that most over-the-air viewers will learn from educational campaigns that they must act to avoid losing service.
Why Did the FCC Hire Ketchum?
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 6:58amIt was a peculiar decision for the Federal Communications Commission to hire the ethically-challenged Ketchum Communications as their communications and "messaging" guru for the digital television education initiative. It was Ketchum that funneled $240,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to syndicated television and radio host Armstrong Williams in exchange for his touting of the Bush Administration’s “No Child Left Behind” program a few years ago.
FCC Sets Wilmington (NC) as Digital-Switch Test Market
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 8, 2008 - 8:53amFederal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is set to announce Thursday that it will run a test of the switch to digital broadcasting signals in Wilmington (NC), the smallest TV market in the Tarheel state.
