House Democrats Outline DTV Actions for FCC

In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) said they and 10 other House members were asking the FCC to: 1) Establish a public/private/nonprofit-sector information campaign that focuses on the need for new antennas or adjustments to existing antennas to receive digital-TV broadcast signals; 2) Encourage Americans to act now to buy and install a DTV converter box, test the reception and then take action to resolve any problems as soon as possible; 3) Update information on the FCC's Web site and other related government DTV Web sites to include in an obvious, accessible location a clear explanation of antenna matters; and 4) Expand the FCC's call center, especially in the weeks immediately preceding the transition, to address questions concerning antenna matters.