Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network

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February 17th R.I.P? (We hardly knew ye.)

• Lauren Kravetz
• FCC DTV Regional Supervisor
• West Central Region
• lauren.kravetz_at_fcc.gov
• [phone]

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DTV Quick Facts

• We are transitioning from analog to digital,
  NOT to HD.
• Most tv stations are already broadcasting in
  both analog and digital.
• The transition involves stations shutting
  off their analog transmitters.
• Nearly 150 stations have already transitioned,
  and hundreds more are expected to transition on
  February 17th, despite the extension to June 12.
  It wont be clear until next week how many will
  transition on (or before) the 17th.
• 40 Coupons are available to defray the cost
  of the converter box. There is currently a delay
  in receiving coupons, but applications over the
  next couple weeks will likely be filled, just not
  before February 17. Apply at www.dtv2009.gov or
  888-DTV-2009.
• Analog TVs connected to cable or satellite are
  fine, as are digital tvs, whether or not they are
  connected to cable or satellite.
• Satellite is tricky many consumers do not get
  their local stations on the satellite, but rather
  on a separate tv with an antenna.
• Analog pass-through converter boxes will allow
  viewing of low power tv stations that are not
  transitioning right now, especially relevant in
  border areas because Canada and Mexico are not
  transitioning for several years.

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FCCs Consumer Outreach

• Divided into six regions, based on Nielsen Media
  Research regions
• East Central - IN, KY, MI, OH , WV
• Northeast - CT, DC, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, PA, RI,
  VT
• Pacific - AK, AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA
• Southeast AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA
• Southwest - AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
• West Central - CO, IA, IL, KS, MO, MN, MT, NE,
  ND, SD, WI, WY

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DTV Regional Supervisors

• East Central
• Lyle Elder (202.418.2365)
• Lyle.Elder_at_fcc.gov
• Northeast
• Cecilia Ceci Seppings (202.418.1588)
• Cecilia.Seppings_at_fcc.gov
• Pacific
• Roger Goldblatt (202.418.1035)
• Roger.Goldblatt_at_fcc.gov

• Southeast
• Patrick Webre (202.418.7953)
• Patrick.Webre_at_fcc.gov
• Southwest
• Keyla Hernandez (202.418.0965)
• Keyla.Hernandez-Ullo_at_fcc.gov
• West Central
• Lauren Kravetz (202.418.7944)
• Lauren.Kravetz_at_fcc.gov

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Nationwide DTV Outreach Program

• Over 200 volunteers from all parts of the FCC are
  participating.
• Each is assigned to a region.
• Most are assigned as DMA Coordinators.
• On-the-ground outreach began mid-November.
• DMA Coordinators work with stakeholders to
  coordinate consumer information and assistance.
• Focus is on at-risk consumers.

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FCC Map for TV Coverage

• Map Book of all full powered digital television
  stations can be found at
• http//www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/
• The map shows for each station the digital tv
  coverage as compared to its analog coverage

7
Basics of Delay Legislation

• Extends analog broadcasting until June 12.
• TV stations may transition early, subject to FCC
  rules.
• Public safety agencies can get access to analog
  airwaves returned early to start working on new
  uses that will help emergency responders. 
• Coupon application deadline extended from March
  31 to July 31. 
• Expired coupons will be replaced.
• BUT the additional funding for coupons and
  outreach is in the stimulus bill.

8
FCC Grassroots Contracts

• Some are nationwide, some are regional.
• Some propose to serve specific constituencies.
• Different activities included in each, depending
  on what awardee proposed.
• Managed from FCC HQ.

9
AARP

• Enhancing nationwide call center for DTV
• Nationwide number is [phone]
• FCC contacts
• Elesza Waters, [phone] or
  elesza.waters_at_fcc.gov
• Patricia Chew, [phone] or
  patricia.chew_at_fcc.gov

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Hispanic Information and Telecommunications
Network
Focusing on the top 20 Hispanic markets

• Phoenix, AZ
• San Diego, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Sacramento, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Denver, CO
• Broward, FL
• Miami-Dade, FL
• Chicago, IL

• Albuquerque, NM
• Brooklyn, NY
• New York, NY
• Philadelphia, PA
• Puerto Rico
• Dallas, TX
• Fort Worth, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• El Paso, TX
• Houston, TX

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HITN, contd.

• Partnering with Dish Network to deliver converter
  boxes and promote workshops.
• Partnering with Latinos in Information Sciences
  Technology (LISTA) to provide technical support
  for home installation of converter boxes through
  a network of technical professionals.
• Will establish help centers at community-based
  organizations in the 20 high-Hispanic density
  markets.
• Will conduct weekly workshops, originating from
  HITN studios and transmitted via HITNs private
  video conferencing satellite communication
  platform to multiple sites in target cities.
• Will produce Spanish-language public service
  announcements and promotional spots to air on
  HITNs radio network partner, Radio Bilingue.
• Has launched a dedicated Latino Digital
  Transition website at http//www.hitn.tv/dtv.

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Idaho Public Television

• Providing phone and email assistance in regard to
  DTV converter box installation.
• Will conduct two live call-in shows to answer
  questions about installation, and engineers will
  follow-up
• Will will follow-up with 3000 previous callers to
  ensure they have successfully installed their
  converter boxes.
• Idaho Public Television will develop and air new
  informational spots on specific DTV transition
  issues. Issues to be covered are fringe areas,
  cliff effect, antenna placement, rescanning
  channels, and impact of the transition on those
  who receive signals via translators).
• FCC Contacts
• Michelle Scott, [phone],
  michelle.scott_at_fcc.gov
• Richard Smith, richard.smith_at_fcc.gov

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Iowa Public Broadccasting

• IPTV will assist callers with reception and
  converter box questions.
• For those who cannot be helped on the phone,
  IPTV's Digital Advisory Group will recruit local
  volunteers for in-home assistance.
• IPTV will identify and train other partners to
  help with on-site installation and reception
  concerns.
• The toll-free number IPTV number is
  1-800-532-1290.
• FCC Contacts
• Jerry Liebes, [phone], jerry.liebes_at_fcc.gov
  
• Kristi Thompson, [phone],
  kristi.thompson_at_fcc.gov
• Tracy Waldon, [phone], tracy.waldon_at_fcc.gov

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Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee

• Volunteers will be recruited to assist at-risk
  consumers in applying for coupons.
• Contributions will be solicited to assist in
  purchase of converter boxes for low-income
  individuals.
• Assistance with purchase process, including
  transportation to the store.
• Trained volunteers from the CWA and local
  television stations will do installations.
• Knoxvilles Senior Citizens Information and
  Referral Service (SCIRS) will serve as the
  central location for phone and walk-in
  information about the DTV converter box project.
• FCC Contacts
• Michelle Scott, [phone],
  michelle.scott_at_fcc.gov
• Anne Levine, [phone], anne.levine_at_fcc.gov
• Katherine Kaki Power, [phone],
  katherine.power_at_fcc.gov

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WOSU Public Media

• WOSU will assist at-risk consumers to get
  converter boxes, either through individual
  purchases or through an existing WOSU program
  urging coupon donations.
• WOSU will work through its partners (Central Ohio
  Area Agency on Aging/LifeCare Alliance, the
  Columbus Metropolitan Libraries, the City of
  Columbus New Americans Initiative, and other
  local immigrant support organizations) to
  organize, conduct and supervise the installation
  of converter boxes in the residences of the
  at-risk populations.
• WOSU will operate a call center and a walk-in
  help center at their Columbus studio.
• FCC Contacts
• Toni McGowan, [phone], toni,mcgowan_at_fcc.gov
  
• Mark Stone, [phone], mark.stone_at_fcc.gov
• Sandy Haase, [phone], sandra.haase_at_fcc.gov

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PinTech Corporation

• Coverage area
• Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, NC
• Charleston and Greenville-Spartansburg, SC
• Bristol and Richmond, VA
• Charleston-Huntington, WV - with overlaps into
  rural areas of Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
• PinTech will partner with local organizations to
  locate and train volunteers to assist with
  in-home installations
• FCC Contacts
• James Ham, [phone], james.ham_at_fcc.gov
• Michelle Carey, [phone],
  michelle.carey_at_fcc.gov
• Anne Levine, [phone], anne.levine_at_fcc.gov

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PinTechs Local Help Centers

• North Carolina
• 327 W. Morgan St.
• Raleigh, NC 27601
• 1-888-388-1733
• South Carolina
• 613 Lady Street
• Columbia, SC 29201

• Virginia
• 1020 Ednam Center, Suite 002
• Charlottesville, VA 22903
• 1-877-388-0413
• West Virginia
• 206 Capitol Street - 1st Floor
• Charleston, WV 25301
• 1-877-388-5473

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WXXI / Rochester, NY

• WXXI will arrange for volunteers and staff to do
  in-home installations.
• Expand the staffing and hours for walk-in and
  call-in center 1-866-348-9994.
• Other outreach, such as live call-in shows and
  preparation of outreach materials.
• FCC Contacts
• Jerry Liebes, [phone] jerry.liebes_at_fcc.gov
• Chris Robbins, [phone], chris.robbins_at_fcc.g
  ov
• Debbie Byrd, [phone], debbie.byrd_at_fcc.gov

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Philadelphia Mayors Commission on Technology

• Focusing on ten city council districts with
  vulnerable consumers.
• MCOT will coordinate requests for installation
  services through inquiries that come into the
  help centers, calls to the citys new 311 System,
  and calls or emails to the local PBS/NPR
  affiliates, WHYY TV and Radio.
• One recreation center in each of the ten Council
  Districts will be established as a walk-in DTV
  Help and Resource Center.
• Web site - http//mcot.phila.gov/Initiatives/DTV/D
  TV.html.

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Philadelphia MCOT, contd.

• FCC Contacts
• Elesza Waters, [phone],
  elesza.waters_at_fcc.gov
• Heather Dixon, [phone],
  heather.dixon_at_fcc.gov
• Jonathan Levy, [phone], jonathan.levy_at_fcc.g
  ov

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Wisconsin Public Television

• WPT will expand their staff and hours of
  operation utilizing their existing call-in
  number 1-800-422-9707.
• Other outreach, such as presentations to at-risk
  groups, preparing materials.
• FCC Contacts
• Jerry Liebes, [phone] jerry.liebes_at_fcc.gov
• Kristi Thompson, [phone],
  kristi.thompson_at_fcc.gov
• Charles Engle, [phone], charles.engle_at_fcc.g
  ov

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Communications Services for the Deaf

• Establishing a help center to assist 28 million
  deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, and speech
  disabled consumers.
• Consumers may contact the Help Center via the
  web, TTY, IM Chat, IP Relay, Voice Carry-Over
  (VCO) Relay, Captioned Telephone (CapTel), Video
  Relay Service and Spanish Video Relay Service and
  will provide consumer education, assistance with
  converter box procurement and installation.
• FCC Contacts
• Toni, McGowan, [phone], toni,mcgowan_at_fcc.go
  v
• Helen Chang, [phone], helen.chang_at_fcc.gov
• Diane Mason, [phone], diane.mason_at_fcc.gov

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VN Teamwork

• Serving Asian and Latin American non-English
  speaking communities in the Greater Houston area.
• Will establish a help center in the VNTW Center
  for telephone and walk-in inquiries.
• Local Call Center (281-495-8936) through February
  17th weekdays from 9AM 6PM weekends from 9AM
  3PM.
• VN Teamwork will translate materials on the DTV
  conversion into appropriate languages and
  disseminate that information to individuals and
  their families through radio announcements, talk
  shows, newspapers, flyers, emails, and websites.
• FCC Contacts
• Toni McGowan, [phone], toni,mcgowan_at_fcc.gov
  
• Mark Stone, [phone], mark.stone_at_fcc.gov
• Margaret Dailey, [phone],
  margaret.dailey_at_fcc.gov

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Can You Help Us?

• The FCC is trying to identify potential help
  centers in every DMA.
• Places where consumers could walk in to get
  publications, test converter box, talk with
  someone.
• Please suggest senior centers that would be good
  candidates to host a small table with a tv set up
  and provide assistance for the several weeks
  around the transition in their community.
• Some FCC staff assistance may be available.
• Send suggestions to N4A.