DTV Town Hall Meeting to Feature FCC Commissioner

DTV Town Hall Meeting to Feature FCC Commissioner

DETROIT, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Commissioner Michael Copps along with Congressman John Conyers (D-15th) will be on hand at a Town Hall meeting to be held at Wayne County Community College's down town campus at 1001 W. Fort St. on Monday January 12th at 11:00 AM.

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters and local television stations will co-host the event. The meeting is free to the public and will include a demonstration on how to hook up a converter box. Local television engineers will be available to answer individual questions pertaining to their stations.

The purpose of the Town Hall meeting is to help Metro area citizens learn important information about preparedness for the digital transition.

"People who subscribe to a paid TV service, like cable or satellite should be fine. Their paid provider will handle the transition for them," said MAB President & CEO Karole White. In addition, she noted, "There are choices for those who receive their television over the air."

Over-the-air television viewers have three options they can take to ensure they continue to receive a television signal. For some over-the-air television viewers, it may be time to replace that old TV. The price of a new digital television has significantly lowered in recent months. Perhaps cable, satellite or one of the newer phone company paid television services would be a good alternative. Many of them are offering very competitive introductory basic programming prices. If you love that old analog TV set and just don't want to give it up or spend money on a paid service, you can purchase a converter box. Converter boxes are available at most electronics retailers and cost between $40 and $70. The government has a converter box coupon program, but currently there is a waiting list to get the coupons. If you absolutely do not want to go a day without television, you'll need to purchase the converter box without the advantage of the coupon or ask neighbors or relatives if they might have an extra coupon which has not expired that you could have.

"The digital transition is just one of those necessary changes in life," said White. "The analog spectrum must be reallocated for first responders and new wireless technologies to make more efficient use of this limited resource. As with all technical changes in life, everyone needs to be patient. Transitioning the nearly 600,000 Michigan households who receive their television only over-the-air has been a huge undertaking."

Detroit television stations are to be congratulated as they were one of the first markets to institute regular television soft tests. These tests give audiences multiple opportunities to check every TV in their home to ensure they are receiving digital signals. "Test Your TV Tuesday" is sweeping the nation and it is due to the dedication of the Detroit television stations' regularly scheduled tests.

This is your chance to ask questions of the very people who are in charge of the digital transition. Don't miss this opportunity.

For more information on the DTV Town Hall Meeting or to ask questions about the digital transition, call the Michigan DTV Helpline, sponsored by Don-Lors Electronics at 888-643-8809.

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters represents more than 389 radio and television stations, serving nearly 4,000 individual employees in the broadcasting industry. MAB is one of the largest broadcast associations in the nation and offers educational, informational and cost-saving. The MAB is dedicated to helping its members serve their communities, advertisers and staff by providing services to its members, solutions to industry problems and satisfying members' needs.

Source: The Michigan Association of Broadcasters

CONTACT: Karole White or Mary Epps of The Michigan Association of
Broadcasters, +1-517-484-7444, mab@michmab.com

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Profile: International Entertainment