DTV Day of Action It’s time for a Socially Responsible DTV Transition
On Friday April 17th local community organizations will gather at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis for a national DTV Day of Action—part of the Media Action Grassroots Network’s “Socially Responsible DTV Transition Campaign.” Across the country (San Antonio, Seattle, New Mexico, Philadelphia, NYC, Bay Area, Appalachia) partner organizations will hold similar events to help community members with the transition to DTV, as well as call on local retailers to provide a “no-cost box” solution for residents.
“In MN we’re lucky”, says Steven, of the MnMEP, “Early on we built a relationship with Mosquito Productions. They’re willing to do what Target Corporation was not. We tried to build a relationship with Target. Their headquarters are here, and they often talk about ‘giving back to the community.’ We sent a letter to the CEO of Target, talked to Managers, sent hundreds of postcards—all requesting a low cost converter box. We gathered over 100 signatures with an online petition and launched a FAX campaign asking for a No Cost Box. They basically blew us off.”
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In 2005, the federal government passed the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act. Signed into law by President Bush Feb. 8, 2006, the legislation established a hard date for broadcasters to cease analog television transmissions and transition to digital technology. The bill gave the FCC the authority to terminate analog licenses for full-power television stations and reclaim the spectrum for public safety and commercial wireless broadband services. By the end of the transition, all digital television transmissions will be in the spectrum currently occupied by TV channels 2 through 51 -- the "core" TV spectrum. While television channels 52 through 69 in the 700 MHz band will be cleared for wireless communications.
Changed from Feb 17th, 2009 to June 12th, 2009, the new hard transition date means changes for over-the-air TV viewers, who will gain access to more channels and clearer signals, but who may also need new equipment to continue watching free TV. While the DTV Act also authorized the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program (the program allows for 2 $40 coupons per household to offset the cost the purchasing the necessary converter box) preparing for the DTV Transition is not nearly as simple or affordable as presented. For community organizations, who are committed to social and economic justice, it’s obvious that the digital television transition is critical issue because a lack of TV limits access to information, much of it vital.
“Communication is a fundamental human right!”
Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights guarantees “Everyone the right to freedom of opinion and expression including the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Many Media Justice organizations recognize the Digital Television Transition represents a major shift in the way news, information, and culture is transmitted and received. Our move from historic forms of communication such as broadcast and print to new digital models of communication raises questions about digital inclusion—and its relation to the DTV transition. Whether the DTV transition or broadband build-out, this digital expansion presents challenges to access and regulation that have the potential to either increase the pre-existing disenfranchisement of marginalized groups, or access and equity.
Digital Justice in MN
On Friday April 17th local community organizations will gather at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis for a national DTV Day of Action—part of the Media Action Grassroots Network’s “Socially Responsible DTV Transition Campaign.” Across the country (San Antonio, Seattle, New Mexico, Philadelphia, NYC, Bay Area, Appalachia) partner organizations will hold similar events to help community members with the transition to DTV, as well as call on local retailers to provide a “no-cost box” solution for residents.
“In MN we’re lucky”, says Steven, of the MnMEP, “Early on we built a relationship with Mosquito Productions. They’re willing to do what Target Corporation was not. We tried to build a relationship with Target. Their headquarters are here, and they often talk about ‘giving back to the community.’ We sent a letter to the CEO of Target, talked to Managers, sent hundreds of postcards—all requesting a low cost converter box. We gathered over 100 signatures with an online petition and launched a FAX campaign asking for a No Cost Box. They basically blew us off.”
Mosquito Productions is currently providing a No Cost Box for the DTV Transition. This means that if you bring in a valid, government coupon you can walk out with a DTV Converter box. No taxes, no extras, its an even 1:1 exchange. Says John Buchmann, the owner,
"As a mainly online retailer, we've made it our mission to do what the big box retailers have refused to do -- offer a wider selection of converter boxes (most big box chains have one or two models, while we've had over 35!), provide honest and consistent information about the converters available, and keep all of our prices affordable. We're proud to be able to fill yet another void and bring a timely and affordable solution to those in need during this confusing transition period."
How we handle the DTV transition is a good indication of how we will handle other Digital Inclusion issues. The Digital TV transition has always been about access. It is about ensuring that every individual and every community (irrespective of circumstance) is able to access low cost, convenient technology. And, it’s about skills--whether using the Internet to apply for a $40 coupon, or hooking up a new converter box, we have to ensure that individuals have the ability to interact with relevant hardware and make it work for them.
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Comments
what is to be done for?
As far as I'm concerned, no one should watch TV; fighting for the right of everyone to do so is not on my to-do list.
Historically, telling
Historically, telling disenfranchised people, "Hey, the things you want aren't worth it anyway--I know, because I've got them" has not been a winning strategy for the left.
Those of us who routinely have privileges like internet access (and particularly those of us who could readily get a TV or a converter thingy if we wanted one) might consider this before telling immigrants and low-income families what they should and should not want.
Its not about TV!
Interestingly, I 've seen a lot of reactions like this. Even more interesting they ALL come from Blogs like this (i.e. Indymedia, Anti- Capitalist, Socialist, etc. media venues). I'm not hating on any of this, but its interesting... and it sort of begs the question "why?" But, that aside, let me be clear--I grew up in a home without TV. Ok, that’s not entirely true. We had a TV, but it was hardly the center of our livingroom, and it came with serious restrictions. TV wasn’t a valued source of entertainment in our house—it was source of information.
It should be obvious for those committed to social and economic justice that the digital television transition is critical issue—not because we want more people to ‘turn-on and tune-out’ but because a lack of TV limits access to information, much of it vital. We already live in a world with profound divisions between ‘haves and have-nots’–do we really want our public airwaves to be added to this paradigm? I hope not! Add to this the systemic nature of racism, classism, and other forms of institutional oppression—and it should be a priority for all social justice activists to work to dismantle the digital divide.
Let’s not forget, ‘communication is a fundamental human right!’
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