FCC SETS AGENDA FOR CONSUMER DTV WORKSHOP

The FCC today announced the agenda topics and tentative speakers for the Digital Television Consumer Education Workshop to be held Wednesday, Sept. 26, at FCC Headquarters, 445 12^th St., SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission Meeting Room. It is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.

The FCC said the purpose of the workshop is to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to “jointly discuss the challenges associated with the upcoming transition and explore ways to

develop coordinated consumer education activities.”

Organizations representing a broad range of consumers and other stakeholders will be represented, including those who represent senior citizens, low-income consumers, non-English speakers, people with disabilities, tribes, and public interest organizations working on behalf of underserved customers or those living in rural areas.

During the workshop, the public can e-mail questions for the panelists at dtvworkshop@fcc.gov.

A live audiocast of the hearing will be available at the FCC’s Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/#sep26 on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the hearing will be recorded, and the recording will be made available to the public.

Here is the preliminary agenda and speakers (There will be time for question and answer following each panel discussion.):

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.    Pre-Program Demonstrations

Demonstrations will include converter box use, digital televisions and comparisons to analog use

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.    Welcome

FCC Chairman Martin

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  What Are the Government’s and Industry’s Roles in Facilitating the DTV Transition?

Panelists:

Federal Communications Commission – Cathy Seidel, Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce - Tony Wilhem, Director of Consumer Education

Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition – Marc Pearl, Executive Director

Consumer Electronics Association - Julie Kearney, Senior Director and Regulatory Counsel

National Cable Television Association - Rob Stoddard, SVP, Communications and Public Affairs

National Association of Broadcasters - Jonathan Collegio, VP, Digital Television Transition

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.            Consumer Interest and Advocacy Group Roundtable – Part I (General Consumer Groups)

Panelists:

Representative from Alliance for Public Television (invited)

Association of Public Television Stations –John Lawson, President and CEO

Consumer Action  â€“ Linda Sherry, Director of National Priorities

Representative from Consumer Federation of America (invited)

National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators - Elizabeth Owen, Executive Director

National Consumers League – Susan Grant, VP Public Policy

Representative from Consumer’s Union (invited)

Noon – 1:00 p.m.          Lunch Break

Attendees are encouraged to visit the technical demonstrations and have information discussions with other participants.

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.    Consumer Interest and Advocacy Group Roundtable – Part II (Specific Populations)

Panelists:

American Association of People with Disabilities – Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director, Telecommunications and Technology Policy

Representative from AARP (invited)

Representative from Appalachian Regional Commission/ Rural Broadband Coalition (invited)

Representataive from La Raza (invited)

Representative from NAACP (invited)

National Puerto Rican Coalition – Manual Mirabal, President and CEO

Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) – Noah Cuttler, Director of Regulatory Affairs

Representative from U.S. Administration on Aging/U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services (invited)

Representative from U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (invited)

Native Public Media – Loris Taylor, Executive Director

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center – Doua Thor, Executive Director

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.    Wrap Up