What is the Special Committee on Aging Doing?

Senator Kohl has reached out to the following entities:

• The Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the Administration on Aging,, which will oversee the entire DTV transition and the coupon program. Senator Kohl asked about their ability and plan to jointly implement a consumer education program for older individuals.
  
  View a copy of the letter to the FCC and the DoC | View the FCC's response | View the DoC's response
  
  View a copy of the letter to the AoA
• The top five consumer electronics retailers & the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition, which will sale coupon eligible converter boxes and represent relevant retailers. Senator Kohl asked about their plans to safeguard seniors from up-selling at the point of sale, their ability to appropriately label eligible converter boxes, and employee training program options.
  
  View a copy of the letter to Wal-Mart | Wal-Mart's response
  
  View a copy of the letter to Target | Target's response
  
  View a copy of the letter to Circuit City | Circuit City's response
  
  View a copy of the letter to Best Buy | Best Buy's response
  
  View a copy of the letter to Radio Shack | Radio Shack's response
  
  View a copy of the letter to CERC | CERC's response
• The Consumer Electronics Association, which represents the manufacturers of the converter boxes. We asked them about their ability to advocate for appropriately labeled converter boxes and concise installation assistance.
  
  View a copy of the letter to the CEA | View CEA's response
• The National Association of Broadcasters, which has taken the lead in implementing a public awareness campaign through local broadcasters. We requested state-by-state data on analog-only households, informed them of the imminent need for public service announcements (PSAs), and inquired about how their consumer education plan will address the needs of older individuals.
  
  View a copy of the letter to the NAB | View NAB's response

DTV & Seniors Ad Hoc Working Group: Senator Kohl is also reaching out to a broad range of organizations that represent various groups dedicated to empowering older individuals, such as the National Council of Aging Organizations and the Leadership Council on Aging. Senator Kohl is urging these entities to educate their member organizations about the DTV Transition, as they constitute a vital link to educating seniors across the nation. The Committee held its first meeting with an ad hoc working group of aging, emergency preparedness and disability groups on August 9, 2007.

Legislation: Senator Kohl is developing critical legislation that will establish a public-private partnership between the FCC, the DOC, the Administration on Aging and its allied aging network, and members of the DTV Transition Coalition, which consists of industry and consumer protection organizations. This public-private partnership would launch a nationwide consumer education campaign specifically geared towards ensuring that older individuals who depend on analog TV are not left without TV service on February 17, 2009.