I'm not sure what this "equivalent of $400M" really means, spent in the "Digital UK" program, but the message is certainly right. Bert ----------------------------------------- FCC chief derides 'stealth process' of digital TV transition Loring Wirbel (04/17/2007 12:40 PM EDT) URL: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199100221 LAS VEGAS - The February 2009 transition to all-digital television broadcast is a "stealth process" compared with the U.S. government's education campaign around Y2K computer calendar issues, Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Michael J. Copps said Tuesday morning (April 17). Speaking at an FCC regulatory breakfast at the National Association of Broadcasters conference here, Copps said he sees legitimacy in Rep. John Dingell's characterization of the transition as a "fine mess." "I am really worried about this whole transition and the lack of awareness," Copps said. "The guiding principle should probably be 'no consumer left behind,' but we are not placing enough emphasis on getting the message out." Copps said that the money appropriated in the Department of Commerce budget for funding set-top boxes for some communities is likely to be cut during budget debates, while the $5 million allocation by industry and government for educating the public is inconsequential. The government of Great Britain has committed the equivalent of $400 million in its "Digital U.K." program for contacting every citizen, more than once, on the impact of the digital transition. The United States sorely needs an equivalent effort, he said. All material on this site Copyright 2007 CMP Media LLC. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.