That's according to an article in Broadcasting & Cable magazine.
On February 17, 2009, all broadcast TV signals in the United States must switch from analog to digital. At that time, Americans will not be able to watch TV unless they subscribe to cable or satellite or get a Digital TV or a digital converter box.
The federal government and industry companies plan to launch a campaign next year to inform consumers what they need to do to keep watching television.
But some leading congressional Democrats, such as Reps. John Dingell (D-Michigan) and Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), say the educational campaign should be sooner and be more aggressive.
In a letter to Dingell and Markey, Martin laments that Congress has yet to give the FCC $500,000 that the agency requested last year for a Digital TV educational effort. Additionally, he notes, Congress has not acted on the FCC's request this year for another $1.5 million for consumer education.
Despite the lack of funding, the FCC chief told the lawmakers that the agency was taking several steps to further the transition, including forming an advisory commission of industry officials and drafting letters that congressmen could send to their constituents informing them of the switch to digital.
He said that the FCC would like to initiate a contract with a news feature service so it could plant stories about the Digital TV transition in publications across the country. However, he said that, too, would require Congress to approve the funds.
B&C notes that the FCC has also proposed that cable TV operators be forced to deliver a local broadcaster's digital signal in High-Definition rather than being allowed to downconvert it to standard definition.
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