FCC Chair Michael Copps Talks Digital at Television Academy
 Television Academy COO Alan Perris (seated far right) hosted FCC Chairman Michael Copps (center at podium), Harry Chang, anchor for KSCI/LA 18 (far left), Azalea Iniguez, anchor for Telemundo 52 (adj left), among other dignitaries at the Academy’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre today. |
North Hollywood, CA - According to a Nielsen Company report released just two days before the June 12 transition from analog to digital television, 2.8 million American households, or 2.5% of the television market, are completely unready for the switch.
In the estimation of Michael J. Copps, acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, approximately 250,000 of those households—representing as many as 700,000 people—are in the Los Angeles media market.
Copps shared the Los Angeles figures at a press conference held this morning at the Television Academy’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre, where he was joined by a group of prominent local broadcasting figures in an effort to encourage citizens to act now to avoid complete loss of broadcast service this Friday.
Sharing the stage with Copps were Stan Statham, president and chief executive officer of the California Broadcasters Association, and on-air figures from six area stations: Chuck Henry, anchor for KNBC 4; Kurt Knuttson, “Cyber Guy” for KTLA 5; Carlos Amezcua, anchor for FOX 11 News and KCOP/My 13 News; Harry Chang, anchor for KSCI/LA 18; Raul Peimbert, anchor for Univision 34; and Azalea Iniguez, anchor for Telemundo 52.
Following an introduction by Alan Perris, chief operating officer of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, each of the participants shared remarks that narrated the history of television from 1870 to the present. The digital transition was framed as the latest in decades of advances that have improved the quality and expanded the capability of television throughout the world.
In recent weeks, Copps, has been traveling around the U.S. to share the message of the imminent change in the manner in which television is delivered, and to remind people that if they do not subscribe to a pay television service and are using older, analog televisions, they must attach a digital-to-analog converter box to their television in order to continue receiving over-the-air programming.
In his remarks, Copps said that the state of preparedness nationwide was not as advanced as had been hoped, and he provided information regarding a number of resources available to citizens in need of assistance.
These include a toll-free telephone number, 888-CALL-FCC and a website, www.dtv.gov, which provides detailed explanations of the necessary steps, as well as contact information for numerous organizations that can help with everything from the sale of converter boxes to home installation visits. He was encouraged by the fact that in May the website had received 24 million visits.
Copps also stressed the many advantages of converting to digital delivery—including improved picture and sound quality, access to more channels, and the creation of more room in the airwaves for expanded mobile internet services and emergency communications services for first responders.
“This transition,” he said, “is good for consumers, good for citizens generally, good for broadcasters, good for business—good for the country.”