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: Reduce Costs and Burdens of Transition on Viewers

With the federal government reaping a $19.5 billion financial benefit from the sale of spectrum generated by the DTV transition, it is only fair to ask that it use a small portion of those proceeds to help consumers and communities defray the costs and burdens imposed on them by that same transition. It is vital that the government provide funding for home visits to deliver and install converter boxes and antennas for those who need assistance. In addition, the government should:

• Make more DTV converter box coupons available overall as well as per household;
• Eliminate the expiration date for coupons, or at the very least extend the expiration date to March 2009;
• Eliminate the burdensome certification requirement of the second stage of the coupon program;
• Mail DTV converter box coupons in envelopes that are easily identifiable by those with visual challenges;
• Provide more opportunities for mail order or Internet redemption of coupons for converter boxes;
• Make more converter boxes that pass through an analog signal eligible for coupons and available in stores so that viewers will not lose access to their analog community (low-power) broadcast television stations;
• Work with cable companies to reduce the costs and burdens on cable customers from the digital transition;
• Work with retailers to provide accurate information to consumers about the transition and prevent unnecessary upselling;
• Certify and publicize which DTV converter boxes eligible for coupon redemption incorporate video description and make them readily available; and
• Require TV and converter box manufacturers to include automatic software updating capability to remedy software flaws that impact closed-captioning, video description, and other functionality.

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