NAB Urges NTIA to Address Concerns About Early DTV Test in Wilmington, NC

May 15, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC — National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO David K. Rehr sent the following letter to Meredith Baker, acting assistant secretary for communications and information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, outlining several concerns about the September analog-shutoff test in Wilmington, N.C., and its impact on viewers. Broadcasters are leading a massive, multiplatform campaign to educate Americans and ensure the nation's successful transition to digital television.

May 15, 2008

Meredith Attwell Baker
Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington DC 20230

Dear Assistant Secretary Baker:

As you know, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced an experimental test for analog-shutoff by television stations in the Wilmington, North Carolina Designated Market Area (DMA). While the experiment can shed light on issues surrounding the digital television (DTV) transition of February 17, 2009, several concerns must be addressed to ensure that viewers in that market are transitioning to digital in a way that reflects the reality of what will occur in late 2008 and early 2009 nationwide.

Specifically, it is our hope that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will prioritize and expedite converter box coupon applications received by viewers in the Wilmington DMA. It is our understanding that NTIA is currently processing through a backlog of coupons, and it is crucial for viewers in that market to have immediate, priority access to coupons.

Additionally, given that the CBS affiliate in that market, WILM-LP, is not yet broadcasting a digital signal, we would urge the NTIA to coordinate with the FCC and retailers to ensure that converter boxes with the analog pass-through feature be made available as soon as possible in that market. Boxes without the analog pass-through feature may inconvenience and confuse viewers who attempt to watch programming on a channel that may be broadcasting exclusively in analog throughout the summer.

Finally, I write to ask that you make public on a weekly basis NTIA information related to coupon applications and redemptions in the Wilmington DMA. This will better enable broadcasters to ensure that the September 8, 2008, messaging is effectively being communicated to viewers.

Broadcasters nationwide have led the private-public partnership to ensure a successful DTV transition, committing more than $1 billion towards a multiplatform campaign to educate Americans. We look forward to working closely with the FCC and NTIA in this endeavor, and it is our hope that this experiment will answer important questions that will help all parties ensure the success of the DTV transition.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

David K. Rehr
President and CEO