Car Crash Means More Advertising For FCC
Posted on: Tuesday, 11 November 2008, 08:23 CST
A huge nine-car NASCAR pileup might have totaled a vehicle backed by the Federal Communications Commission but instead of lamenting the lost vehicle it has allowed the agency to have additional mileage in advertising the looming change to digital TV signals, the FCC's chief announced Monday.
The FCC paid out about $350,000 to sponsor the car in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing event Sunday to promote the TV signal switch ordered by U.S. lawmakers to open airwaves for public consumers like the police and fire departments.
NASCAR driver David Gilliland unintentionally smashed the car in the race held in Arizona.
Inquired if it was a bad sign for the change, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced to reporters it was more of an optimistic event. "Except for the cars that win the races, the cars that are in wrecks get a lot of attention," he said.
With only 100 days ahead of the loss of the analog signals, the FCC, broadcast officials and consumer groups are increasing attempts to instruct millions of consumers about what they should to do to avoid having their TV sets from turning dark.
15 percent of all households in the United States use outdated analog TV sets and are at risk of their screens going black as analog signals are no longer going to be used, according to the Government Accountability Office, a congressional regulator.
Possessors of analog TV sets can simply purchase a converter box to get a digital signal. They can receive a $40 coupon from the government to finance the expense by going to: www.dtv2009.gov/.
Martin, a Republican appointed by U.S. President George W. Bush, redirected inquiries about whether he would still have his job when President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.
"I don't have any plans to go anywhere yet," Martin said. Martin noted that he has not been in contact with anyone from the Obama changeover team.
If Martin left his position, it would put the FCC in control of two Democrats and one Republican, due to the fact that the term of a second Republican commissioner, Deborah Taylor Tate, ends soon.
Selection of a new FCC chair is not anticipated to be Obama's biggest concern, as the country is in the middle of a plummeting economy and a massive financial calamity, so one of the two Democrats will probably assume the role of interim chairman for the time being.
Approximately 34 million converter box coupons have been applied for from the government, according to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, whose agency heads up the coupon program.
However, only 14 million have cashed in the coupons, he noted.
"A lot of people will be taking action very late," said David Rehr, leader of the National Association of Broadcasters, which represents large networks, like Walt Disney Co's ABC and General Electric Co's NBC.
Consumers are asked to get the boxes early on to make sure that they are working properly. Several sets could require an extra antenna to be fully operational.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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