Digital TV: Keeping Seniors Connected Campaign

On June 12, 2009, the nation’s television broadcasting system is slated to go totally digital. After then, consumers who have an analog-only TV (with a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears on the TV), and do not subscribe to cable or satellite service, will need to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch free, over-the-air programming.

The Keeping Seniors Connected Coalition, a nationwide coalition of nine leading national aging organizations, is working to assist vulnerable older Americans with the transition. Major funding for the Digital TV: Keeping Seniors Connected Campaign is provided by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NITA), U.S. Department of Commerce.

The campaign objectives are to mobilize communities through Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American aging programs–and their community-based partnerships with volunteers and service providers–to:

* Provide education about the digital TV transition to vulnerable older adults, specifically those who are minority, low-income, rural, homebound, or have limited English proficiency; and

* Provide one-to-one customized assistance to vulnerable older persons, including help with

o assessing the need for a converter box for digital transmission;

o applying for and tracking converter box coupons;

o obtaining a converter box from a local retailer;

o installing the converter box and troubleshooting transmission difficulties; and

o learning how to successfully utilize the new technology.

Eldersource is a partner in the Campaign (with Monroe County Office of the Aging) to provide information and assistance via telephone, one-on one at Sr. Centers, RHA buildings and NORC sites we service as well as in-person via Eldersource Care Managers. Lifespan’s Consumer Fraud division will also be calling clients to assess their needs for DTV.

Please call Eldersource at 325-2800 for more DTV information.

Source: FCC.gov Digital TV: Keeping Seniors Connected Campaign is made possible, in part, by a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Dept. of Commerce