WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and the Alaska Broadcasters Association (ABA) today announced that a digital television (DTV) workshop will be held in Anchorage on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Loussac Library.  The workshop, which is being hosted jointly by Senator Stevens and the ABA, is open to the public and will feature speakers from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal agencies coordinating the upcoming DTV transition. 

Broadcasters are mandated to switch to digital television (DTV) signals from the analog signals by February 17, 2009.  The DTV transition will provide clearer pictures with increased programming and will free airwaves for emergency first responders and new wireless communications. A television connected to cable, satellite or other pay television service will not require a television converter box and will continue to receive broadcast signals after February 17, 2009.

Congress ensured that a $1.5 billion converter box coupon program was created to assist households that will continue to use their analog television sets after February 17, 2009.  The program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, which can be applied toward the cost of two eligible converter boxes.  The converter boxes are designed to allow televisions to continue receive over-the-air broadcast signals after the transition. Applications for digital converter box coupons are available at all of Senator Stevens’ state offices and on his website at http://stevens.senate.gov/dtv.  Additional information about the program can also be found at www.dtv2009.gov.

WHO:        Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska Broadcasters Association, representatives from the FCC and from NTIA

WHAT:      Public workshop to answer questions and address concerns regarding upcoming DTV transition on February 17, 2009      

WHERE:   Loussac Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, Alaska

WHEN:      2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursday - May 29, 2008

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