Progress Now Action

Many people don't know this yet, but on February 17, 2009 anyone with a TV that watches the regular broadcasting stations without cable or satellite will see blackness when they go to watch the news or their favorite TV show. Congress has mandated the broadcasters move to digital and free up the spectrum they were using for other new wireless enterprises.

The problem is that this transition means that an average of 15% of the population will have to buy a converter box for their old TV or buy a new one to get news, programming and emergency information. There is a campaign to educate people about the change and even a $40 coupon for the converter box for whoever wants one. But...no one is telling us about it.

The Colorado General Assembly had a joint resolution that encouraged more education for the transition, but many of the legislators felt the coupons were a corporate give-away and therefore did not support the education of Colorado on this issue.

While this may or may not be a valid point, the poorest people, minorities, people with disabilities and people in rural areas are the most affected by this lack of education. Call your state legislator and tell them that we don't want to leave our most needy out in the cold. Anyone should be able to turn on their TV for the news or emergency information, not only those that can afford cable.