FCC asks radio hams to assist in February's DTV conversion

Radio Hams across the United States are being asked by the FCC to assist in the upcoming conversion of all television broadcasting to digital operation.

The ARRL reports that it has received a request from the regulatory agency asking its members to provide technical educational assistance to their communities concerning the FCC-mandated digital television conversion scheduled for February 17, 2009.

According to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Amateur Radio clubs across the country are being asked to develop and implement plans to provide information throughout January and February about the Digital Television conversion in their geographic areas. The FCC is leaving it up to the clubs to decide how to do this because they believe that local groups understand the communities in ways that the FCC does not.

Pitts said that in early January the FCC will ask ARRL Section Managers for the names and contact information of the volunteering groups. The FCC staff will then make contact with the groups, learn their plans and provide them with the media, brochures or other materials that groups and clubs may need in this effort. FCC regional staff members may even visit with larger organizations to aid in implementation of the group’s plans.

Pitts stressed that hams should not make 'house calls,' sell any equipment or do actual installations. The request is only to distribute technical information and FCC materials only. In other words you are not to do anything other than hand out literature and answer questions. Nor can you charge anyone for your time or effort as this is a volunteer undertaking.

Interested groups should contact their ARRL Section Manager. More information on this request from the FCC is on line on the ARRL newspages at www.arrl.org.

Source: ARNewsline, ARRL