"Management of the Digital TV Transition: Is New York Prepared?"

On Friday, July 18, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing titled, “Management of the Digital TV Transition: Is New York City Prepared?”

This field hearing was held at the Brooklyn Sports Club, 1540 Van Siclen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11239.

In February 2009, television stations nationwide will turn off their analog broadcasts and will broadcast only in digital format. This will require new equipment for many people currently using antennas to receive over-the-air broadcasts. The Subcommittee reviewed management of federal programs to assist with the transition, including controls over a program to issue vouchers to citizens to purchase converter boxes. The hearing also examined the impact of the transition and outreach to heavily-impacted neighborhoods in New York City.

Witnesses Included:

Panel I

Bill Ritter, Emmy Award Winning Anchor, WABC TV, New York, NY

Mark Lloyd, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

Panel II

The Honorable Meredith Attwell Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Monica Shah Desai, Chief of the Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission