NTIA Gathers Input on Converter Box Program

NTIA GATHERS INPUT ON CONVERTOR BOX PROGRAM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
At the first of what the National Telecommunications & Information Administration promised would be regular public meetings on the DTV converter box coupon program, a representative of the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) said she was concerned that people with disabilities had not been identified by the NTIA as a key target population for the DTV converter box education campaign. She asked for assurances that the public education campaign about the program would be closed captioned. NTIA Program Director Anita Walgren said that and other issues would be hammered out as NTIA worked with contractors on the program, but NTIA pledged to reach out to the disability community and said it was a priority constituency. The box is not required to provide reception of specialized secondary audio channel services like video description, which the AAPD rep said was problematic. An NTIA spokesman said since the FCC does not require that reception, it did not feel authorized to do so. Mark Lloyd -- a veteran broadcaster, broadcast attorney and advisor to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights -- said his group, which includes the NAACP and National Council of Churches, was concerned about people's access to local news and information. "Many folks could be cut off form that important information," he said. He said his group would work directly with churches and unions to spread the word virally about the coupon program so that people could take advantage of the offer. He plans to speak "to people you trust in language they are comfortable with."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6425981?display=Breaking+News

* Digital TV converters to sell for about $60: LG
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1931969820070320