The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Transition in Trouble

• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Many Will Suffer Significant Harm if the DTV Transition Fails
• The Leadership Conference has Identified Numerous Issues that Threaten a Successful DTV Transition
  • Transition Planning Lacks Leadership and a Comprehensive Plan
  • Transition Awareness is Low; Consumers and Retailers are Confused; Outreach Efforts are Inadequate
  • Coupon Program is Confusing, Burdensome, and Restrictive
  • Costs and Burdens to Many Communities and Viewers are Excessive or Overwhelming
  • Many Communities Will Lose, not Gain, Television Stations and Service
  • No Rapid Response is in Place to Deal with Inevitable Transition Problems
• Recommendations
  • Improve Organization of the Transition
  • Fund Increased Consumer Outreach, Education and Research
  • Reduce Costs and Burdens of Transition on Viewers
  • Preserve Communities' Access to Their Television Stations
  • Prepare for Rapid Response to Problems
• Conclusion

Recommendation: Improve Organization of the Transition

To better facilitate and manage the DTV transition, the federal government should immediately adopt the "Recommendation for Executive Action" contained in the GAO's November 2007 report calling for the Chairman of the FCC, to "develop and communicate a comprehensive plan for the various aspects of the DTV transition, encompassing technical, policy, consumer outreach, and other critical elements." The GAO identified the following key elements of the plan:

1. Detailed goals, milestones, and time frames that can be used to gauge performance and progress, identify gaps, and determine areas for improvement;
2. Strategies for collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders to agree on roles and responsibilities;
3. A description of reporting requirements to track stakeholder efforts against planned goals; and

4. Strategies for managing and mitigating risks to avoid potential problems and target federal resources."⁶⁶

Of critical importance in this comprehensive planning is the creation of an inter-agency task force to oversee the DTV transition in an approach similar to that successfully employed by the federal government for the Y2K transition. Y2K problems were prevented because there was a government-wide response. But unless we do more on the DTV transition, many people will turn on their televisions on February 18, 2009, find static, and flood government offices with questions and pleas for help.

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66. GAO, DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION, note 28, above, p. 33.