Letter to Kevin J. Martin, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman
Letter
Letter to Kevin J. Martin, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman
SCHUMER: WITH DIGITAL TV DEADLINE SET TO HIT IN LESS THAN 90 DAYS, UPSTATE NEW YORK REMAINS UNPREPARED FOR SWITCH -- SENATOR PUSHES FOR EMERGENCY EXTENSION OF EXPIRED COUPONS
With Broadcast TV Switching from Analog to Digital in Three Months, Older TVs Will Require Small Converter Box to Remain Functional As Deadline Approaches, Thousands of New York Households Completely Unready for the Transition; Thousands of Coupons Have Expired Leaving Many New Yorkers Without Options Schumer Pushes FCC to Grant Emergency Extension to All Analog TV Cons
With less than three months to go before the broadcast television transition from analog to digital, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that thousands of households, including thousands of elderly residents across Upstate New York are in danger of being left without access to broadcast television as the analog-to-digital television switch deadline nears. Analog-only televisions will go dark on February 17, 2009 when all over-the-air broadcast signals will be transmitted by a digital signal only, which analog televisions are not equipped to receive.
To ensure that that all residents across Upstate New York can transition smoothly into digital TV and avoid a television black-out, Senator Schumer wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin urging him to grant an emergency extension to all analog television consumers who have not yet redeemed conversion coupons. Schumer pushed the FCC to ease the application process for first time applicants and also allow those with expired coupons to remain eligible to redeem them.
"We cannot leave thousands of Upstate New Yorkers in the dark when residents can't easily access and redeem their converter box coupons," said Schumer. "It is foolish to penalize individuals who couldn't use their coupons before they expired. Instead of making the process easier for people, we are only making it harder. With just three months left, it is important that Upstate New Yorkers are able to apply for couponsfor the first or second timeso they are ready for the switch in February."
As required by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, on February 17, 2009, all television broadcasts will be transmitted by a digital signal only. In order to receive a digital signal either over-the-air (through an antenna) or via a cable or satellite provider, consumers must be equipped with a digital television set or a television set with a digital tuner. Over-the-air broadcasts are currently provided by television stations in both analog and digital formats.
On February 17, 2009, households with analog-only televisions will no longer be able to receive broadcasts unless they buy a digital television; subscribe to cable, satellite, or telephone company television services (which provide conversion of the digital signal to subscribers with analog televisions); or buy a digital-to-analog converter box, which translates the digital broadcast signal into an analog signal that can be understood by an analog-only television.
Individuals with analog-only televisions can apply for up to two $40 coupons distributed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to subsidize the cost of purchasing a digital converter box. However, the current coupons expire within 90 days, and after expiration residents are unable to apply for new ones, leaving many without this much-needed fiscal support to secure the converter boxes.
According to The Nielsen Company, as of November 4, 2008, almost 9 million households7.7% of all homeswere not ready for the upcoming transition to all-digital broadcasting and would be unable to receive any television programming at all if the transition occurred today. As of October 2008, 15 million households10.7%are only partially prepared, meaning one or more television set in their home is not currently able to receive a digital signal. In New York State, 3.7 percent of all households were unprepared for the conversion as of September 1, 2008.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition to digital television, Senator Schumer wrote a letter to the FCC Chairman urging him to allow those with expired coupons to redeem their converter boxes. He also asked that FCC consider a means of e-mailing portable document formatted (pdf) versions of coupons to consumers who are just now applying for the first time, in the interest of expediting the coupons.
Schumer wrote: "I see no reason that FCC can't void the expiration date thereby allowing retailers to accept expired coupons, especially because it is in the retailers' best interests to move converter boxes off of their shelves. It is unacceptable that consumers will miss out on this much-needed fiscal support to subsidize the cost of the converter boxes."
A full copy of the Senator's letter is below:
November 18, 2008
Dear Chairman Martin:
I write today to express my concerns with the Digital Television Transition scheduled for February 17, 2009, as I believe there are serious problems we will encounter as this date rapidly approaches. As of today, we are just 88 days from the analog-to-digital switch. I have specific concerns with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) DTV coupon program - namely the inability for consumers to reapply once a coupon has expired. As we rapidly approach the transition date, I ask that FCC allow those with expired coupons to be eligible to redeem them. I also ask that, in the interest of time, FCC respond as expeditiously as possible to consumers who are just now applying for the first time, and that FCC consider a means of e-mailing portable document formatted (pdf) version of coupons.
In my home state of New York, there are nearly 300,000 Upstate residents, including thousands of elderly, rural, and low-income residents, which are in danger of being left without access to broadcast television as the analog-to-digital television switch deadline nears. Additionally, in the New York Metropolitan area there are over 370,000 households that will be similarly affected.
As you know, with the analog-to-digital transition being just months away, households with over-the-air analog-only televisions will need to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box to hook up to their analog television set. The forty-dollar coupons issued by the NTIA are supposed to subsidize the cost of the equipment, but in New York State alone there could be thousands of consumers with expired coupons, unable to reapply for new coupons and left to shoulder this financial burden alone.
Because the NTIA refuses to allow consumers with expired coupons to reapply, thousands of people throughout the U.S. have been unable to redeem their coupons for converter boxes. This is simply a waste, and I see no reason that FCC can't void the expiration date thereby allowing retailers to accept expired coupons, especially because it is in the retailers' best interests to move converter boxes off of their shelves. It is unacceptable that consumers will miss out on this much-needed fiscal support to subsidize the cost of the converter boxes.
I am also concerned about the consumers who are just now applying for their coupons, either because they were unaware of the transition and how it would affect them, or they were simply unable to send their application at an earlier time. Because these applicants now have less than the 90 day limit on coupons, all necessary action should be taken by FCC to ensure these consumers receive their coupons right away. A possible solution is to email a pdf version of the coupon, similar to how a ticket vendor is able to send a concert or sporting event ticket. This will ensure that little-to-no time will be lost from the time an application is completed, to the time the coupon is received and may be redeemed.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I know you share my commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to digital television. Please contact Jason Abel, in my office, at (202) 224-6542, with concerns or questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
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