Hams' help still needed in DTV switchover

Not everyone is ready for the upcoming United States transition to all-digital television and ham radio's assistance is still needed in the public awareness campaign.

Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reports:

According to the A.C. Neilsen Company, some 3.8 million, or 3.4% of all United States households are still unprepared for the digital television transition slated to take place on June 12th.

Geographically, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the least prepared, with 9.4% having no over-the-air digital reception capability. It’s followed by the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Houston, Texas, each with 6.3% of the citizenry not ready for the transition.

On the other side of the equation, the most digital ready cities appear to be New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut and the Providence to New Bedford region of Rhode Island. Each of these have less than one percent of their citizens unprepared for the digital TV change.

As previously reported, several months ago the FCC requested, through the ARRL, that ham radio operators assist their communities in preparing for the digital television rollout. Many radio clubs across the U.S. have
reportedly become involved as advisors in this ongoing public service effort, nationwide.

Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF

Again, the date for the transition to digital television in the United States is June 12th. If your club wants to assist in helping the public to be prepared for the move, please contact the ARRL.

(ARNewsline - adapted from a report in B&C and other sources.)