Comments on: How’d the digital TV conversion go? http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/06/13/howd-the-digital-tv-conversion-go/ by Kristin Fontichiaro Thu, 17 May 2012 16:53:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Marcia Mardis http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/06/13/howd-the-digital-tv-conversion-go/#comment-16263 Marcia Mardis Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:44:12 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/06/13/howd-the-digital-tv-conversion-go/#comment-16263 In north Florida and south Georgia, the DTV switch has had subtle but noticeable effects. The communities hit hardest by the switch were the ones least in the position to ignore it due to already having cable or dish; least able to afford a $40 converter box; least likely to believe that the government was serious about the change occurring; and most reliant on analog network channels for news and information. In other words, the switch hit poor, rural communities with large populations of senior citizens hard here. An unforeseen, but very present, issue has been the difficulty many have experienced with connecting and reprogramming/rescanning their boxes. Of course, this should have been no surprise since the late 2008 tests in northeastern markets such as the Wilmington, DE area showed similar issues. That research did inform policy as it built momentum for a delay in the switch from February 17 to June 11, but the necessary policy supports were not put in place during that time. To me, this situation signals that the digital divide is far more complex and multi-leveled than we think. After reading report after report of looming Internet "brownouts" or "snow days," (see for example, http://www.nemertes.com/studies/internet_singularity_delayed_why_limits_internet_capacity_will_stifle_innovation_web), I hope our policymakers will use the ARRA funds to upgrade our communications infrastructure in a thoughtful, necessary way. In north Florida and south Georgia, the DTV switch has had subtle but noticeable effects. The communities hit hardest by the switch were the ones least in the position to ignore it due to already having cable or dish; least able to afford a $40 converter box; least likely to believe that the government was serious about the change occurring; and most reliant on analog network channels for news and information. In other words, the switch hit poor, rural communities with large populations of senior citizens hard here.

An unforeseen, but very present, issue has been the difficulty many have experienced with connecting and reprogramming/rescanning their boxes.

Of course, this should have been no surprise since the late 2008 tests in northeastern markets such as the Wilmington, DE area showed similar issues. That research did inform policy as it built momentum for a delay in the switch from February 17 to June 11, but the necessary policy supports were not put in place during that time.

To me, this situation signals that the digital divide is far more complex and multi-leveled than we think. After reading report after report of looming Internet “brownouts” or “snow days,” (see for example, http://www.nemertes.com/studies/internet_singularity_delayed_why_limits_internet_capacity_will_stifle_innovation_web), I hope our policymakers will use the ARRA funds to upgrade our communications infrastructure in a thoughtful, necessary way.

]]> By: Pat http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/06/13/howd-the-digital-tv-conversion-go/#comment-16183 Pat Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:42:46 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/06/13/howd-the-digital-tv-conversion-go/#comment-16183 Exactly like Y2K - uneventful in spite of all the hype. :-) Exactly like Y2K - uneventful in spite of all the hype. :-)

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