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With Wilmington, North Carolina's digital switchover date of September 8 quickly approaching, more is being done to get the word out on the analog TV shutdown.
Every week at farmers' markets in the five counties in and around Wilmington (Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Bladen, and Pender), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has information booths set up to help consumers. The sign over one booth reads, "First in Flight, First in Digital," a riff on the state's license plate motto, "First in Flight." Other catchy phrases include, "Get the coupon, get the box, get the picture."
One FCC outreach aide has been assigned to each of the five counties in Wilmington affected by the digital switchover. They started in mid-May, and have been attending town halls, flea markets, and festivals to pass out information on the transition and show how to hook up converter boxes. They also work on dispelling misunderstandings and to point out the expiration date on the converter coupons.
To reach those that are homebound, FCC aides briefed Meals on Wheels representatives about the DTV transition and how to set up converters boxes. This way, a trusted, familiar person in a senior's home would be able to share the information, rather than a stranger from the FCC.
In the county of Columbus, information was supplied to school districts to send home with children before school was over for the summer. Other Columbus locales such as the Watermelon Festival in rural Fair Bluff, seven senior centers, and eight libraries, were targeted. Bookmobiles are also good resources to spread the word.
Residents in Wilmington won't have to worry about losing a source of news and information if there is a hurricane. The FCC has agreed to suspend the digital transition if the area is threatened by a storm during that time period.
To read more about the Digital Conversion in the U.S., click here.
Source: Multichannel News, 08/17/2008
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