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Welcome to MDC |
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About Us |
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If you're plans setup a website for your Deaf
Community click here! |
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FCC's report |
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Digital TV on Its Way - Prepare for the Switch to
Get the Picture
Big changes are coming in television broadcasting. On February 17, 2009,
all full power television stations are required to stop broadcasting in
analog and continue broadcasting in digital only. This is known as the
DTV transition.
Some consumers are asking why they need to switch. First, all-digital
broadcasting will give needed communications channels to police, fire
and emergency rescue personnel. It will also allow for new wireless
services for consumers. In addition, since digital is more efficient
than analog, it allows stations to broadcast several programs at the
same time, instead of just one program with analog. This means
broadcasters can offer consumers more choices. Digital also allows
broadcasters to offer improved picture and sound quality, including high
definition (HDTV) programming.
It is also important to know that the end of analog broadcasting does
not mean that consumers must purchase new TVs, and you certainly don't
need an HDTV to watch digital broadcasts. If you currently receive
over-the-air programming on an analog television using a broadcast
antenna, either through "rabbit ears" on your set or an antenna on your
roof, you will only need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue
watching broadcast television on that set after February 17, 2009. These
boxes will cost approximately $40 to $70, and will be available in
stores beginning in early 2008.
To help defray the cost of digital-to-analog converter boxes, each U.S.
household can request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used
toward the purchase of eligible boxes. This coupon program is being
administered by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA). For more information on the coupon program visit
www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009.
If you watch over-the-air programming on a DTV (a TV with a built-in
digital tuner), you will not need a digital-to-analog converter box.
Also, an antenna you use to receive analog broadcasts should work for
receiving digital broadcasts, both on a DTV and on an analog TV
connected to a digital-to-analog converter box.
If you subscribe to a paid television service such as cable or satellite
TV, you will not need a digital-to-analog converter box, and the TVs
connected to your paid service will continue to receive local broadcast
programming. However, consumers are advised to check with their
providers to see if they will need any additional equipment in the
future.
For more information, call the FCC at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY:
1-888-835-5322) or visit their DTV Web site at www.dtv.gov
Thom Roberts, Executive Director
TN Council f/t Deaf & Hard of Hearing
400 Deaderick St., 14th Floor
Nashville, Tn 37243-6000 |
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| Or you can go to
http://www.dtv.gov for more info.. |
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| The
37-page list, a Word document (there is also a PDF version), can be
downloaded from the FCC website, and there is another list on the web on
the FCC's captioning exemptions page. These lists are not organized by
state, but there is an organized list on the web that makes it easier to
quickly locate petitioners in your state and maybe even your home town. |
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A Fight We MUST Win. Or: My Nasty Letter to FCC -- As we have seen
this week, the most important issue facing the deaf and
hard of hearing community now is the Federal Communications Commission's
(FCC) recent issuing of waivers for captioning - including two PERMANENT
exemptions. (The latest blog post on this is at the
NAD Advocacy Blog,
which also gives a phone number to call and protest). |
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| There are many of links at
Search about FCC about Deaf Laws. |
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| On behalf of the TAD community, we encourage you
to sign up on Ed's Alert web site for updating on the FCC issues on VRS,
Pagers and others that you MUST know about. Go to
http://www.edsalert.com/2008/04/10/fcc-approves-emergency-alert-text-messaging/
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MDC goal "Mid-South
Community Center Service for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" of
Memphis. Click here for more information. |
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South East Memphis Lion Club |
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NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF IN MARYLAND |
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KCD -
KNOXVILLE CENTER OF THE DEAF |
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Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf in Memphis and
here for
Tennessee |
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TENNESSEE
ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF |
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FCC Report
