Kevin Martin, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a nationwide initiative to increase awareness about the upcoming transition to digital television. The FCC identified target television markets for specific DTV outreach, including all those markets in which more than 100,000 households, or at least 15% of the households, rely solely on over-the-air signals for television. FCC Commissioners Travel Coast-to-Coast to Prepare Viewers for DTV TransitionMartin announced that the five FCC Commissioners and other Commission staff will fan out to these and other markets to raise awareness and educate consumers in the days leading up to the digital television transition on February 17, 2009. At each stop, there will be a public event, such as a town hall meeting, workshop, or roundtable with an FCC Commissioner to highlight the digital transition, and be available to local press. In coordination with these visits, the FCC will work with local broadcasters and radio stations to increase their broadcasts of DTV public service announcements (PSAs). This outreach is designed to educate consumers in these areas, especially those groups that are most vulnerable in the transition including seniors, people living in tribal or rural areas, people with disabilities, individuals with low incomes, minorities, and those who do not speak English.FCC and Other Organizations Join Forces to Prepare Viewers for DTV TransitionMartin was joined by representatives from the National Association of Broadcasters, Consumer Electronics Retailer Coalition, Consumer Electronics Association, and the National Cable Telecommunications Association when the announcement was made. The NAB and members of the DTV Coalition will be assisting the Commission throughout this nationwide tour. “As part of our efforts to prepare consumers for the transition, we have identified television markets in which the largest number of viewers will have to take action to be prepared for the transition six months from now,” Martin said. “This unprecedented nationwide tour by the entire Commission is part of our commitment to prepare and educate consumers about the digital television transition.”

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