Audio Video News

With the DTV transition deadline looming early next year, members of the Federal Communications Commission are hitting the streets to educate Americans. They want viewers to take action before analog broadcasting ends on February 17, 2008.

What's unusual is that this latest DTV promo campaign has FCC chair Kevin Martin and his fellow commissioners wearing out their own shoe leather. They've divvied up the country and are making numerous personal appearances, each of which will include a central event, such as a town hall meeting. Both public and local press are invited to participate. FCC staffers will precede the public appearances with outreach to local broadcasters and community leaders.

Of course, the FCC is not worried about people who have already bought DTVs, or about those supplied by cable or satellite. Its target is the viewer who (1) has an analog TV set, (2) depends on over-the-air broadcasts, and (3) hasn't yet obtained a digital-to-analog convertor box to keep the old set going.

The tour will kick off in Anchorage, Alaska on August 27. See TWICE for additional locations and, in some cases, dates.