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Lee Meredith, Vice President and General Manager of WMC Action News 5, will speak to University of Memphis faculty, students, and the public about the upcoming switch to digital television. Parking is available at the Innovation Drive Parking Garage and at the Zach Curlin Parking Garage.
Under congressional mandate, television stations must switch from broadcasting in an analog format to a digital signal by February 17, 2009. Meredith is participating in the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Digital TV Speakers Bureau, a nationwide consumer education campaign formed to ensure that everyone will be prepared for the switch in February 2009. Representatives from news stations around the country are volunteering to speak to diverse community groups such as rotary clubs and senior centers as well as colleges and libraries.
Over 309,000 households in Tennessee receive broadcasts solely through an analog signal, and over 1 in 4 of the broadcast only households in the state are located in the Memphis metro area. Meredith is helping to inform Memphis viewers that their analog TV sets will no longer receive the new digital-only signal as of February 17, 2009. There are several steps viewers may take in order to guarantee they are ready for the switch to digital.
Converter boxes are easy-to-install electronic devices that hook up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and convert the digital television signal into analog. On January 1, 2008, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) began accepting applications for vouchers that offset the cost of these boxes. Viewers may also subscribe to cable service or buy TVs equipped with digital tuners.
In the coming months, Meredith and broadcasters around the nation will be sharing this message throughout their communities. The NAB hosts a website, www.DTVAnswers.com, where viewers can find the information they need about the transition. Anyone interested in booking a speaker to discuss the transition with their organization can contact David Patterson at (202) 232-6659 or dpatterson@crosbyvolmer.com.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has partnered with Crosby~Volmer International Communications (CVIC) to coordinate the DTV Speakers Bureau initiative. CVIC is a Washington, DC-based public relations firm with additional offices located in Memphis, Oklahoma City and San Francisco. Established in 1997, Crosby~Volmer offers communications counsel to local, national and multi-national organizations & associations. For more information visit www.crosbyvolmer.com.
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