So, the FCC is partnering up with, let me read that again, the Post Office, and your state Department of Motor Vehicles so that you can be "educated" about DTV.For example, in the beginning of July, DTV education posters will be displayed in all 34,000 post offices across the nation. The United States Postal Service estimates that an average of 9 million people pass through their post office lobbies each day.
We have also secured commitments from 25 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to display DTV materials in 1100 Department of Motor Vehicle locations. Specifically, we have secured commitments with Alaska, Arizona, Colorado,the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
FCC's latest DTV gimmick - teaming up with USPS, DMV
Yes, you read that correctly.
I must have been distracted during FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee yesterday, and that's a good thing, since I probably would have died laughing had I heard him actually say half of his written testimony aloud.
Noticing that we're 314 days out until the DTV transition and according to the Consumers' Union, 74% of households have "misconceptions" about the switchover, K-Mart (can I call him that? I think I will from now on) announced two joint education initiatives, which either means that they're being undertaken with other agencies, or...well, read the testimony and see for yourself:
Let me get this straight, Mr. Chairman: You're expecting that the people least likely to know about the transition are going to understand the complexities of getting a DTV converter box (I still don't have my coupon) which may be useless if they live in a rural area and get low power television anyway, are going to figure it out because they see some materials oh, say next to the "WANTED" posters? That worked really well for catching the Unabomber, too, right? Posters in your local Post Office...very original.
If that wasn't enough, you will be able to find DTV materials at your local DMV if you live in one of those lucky 25 states, DC, or Puerto Rico. Keep in mind, that when one goes to the DMV, the foremost thing that they care about is getting out of the DMV. This isn't like Motor Voter where the DMV forms ask me if I want to register to vote, this is just placing stacks of pamphlets near where you sit and wait for your number to be called.
Is the working assumption that people will be so bored that they'll actually read the stuff? Isn't that at odds with most DMV's that want to turn around their reputation as slow and inefficient? I interact with mine mostly through their website. I renewed my registration online, as well as took care of my car's emissions testing date.
Oh, don't forget that a significant portion of those consumers who receive over-the-air signals, (I mean senior citizens) don't drive. If Grandma spends her days watching over the air TV because she got her license taken away, she's not going to find out about the transition at her local DMV.
Joint initiatives, indeed.
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We hoped the major media outlets would get to it eventually, and the Post has finally done it. Sort of. Remember how last month we reported that most DTV Converter boxes wouldn't work for rural consumers because they don't have a "pass-through" for the... Read More
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