Seattle Dtv Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 17 APRIL 2009 Contact: Jonathan Lawson, Reclaim the Media 206.931.0565

A Socially Responsible DTV transition: Countdown to June 12 While urging local viewers to plan ahead for the DTV transition, public interest groups and elected officials ask local retailers to do their part On April 17, Seattle City Council president Richard Conlin and Energy, Technology and Commerce Committee chair Bruce Harrell joined community groups to remind local residents that the time is now to get prepared for the June 12 DTV transition, by applying for converter box coupons, and installing and testing new equipment if needed. Councilmembers also repeated their call, first made earlier this year, for local retailers to do their part for a socially responsible DTV transition, by providing a no-cost converter box option for consumers redeeming $40 coupons distributed by the federal government. "In the current economy, nobody should be faced with economic hardship just to maintain their access to local TV news and emergency information," said Conlin. "Free TV is an essential service for many households, not an optional expense." Public interest group Reclaim the Media is spearheading the local effort as part of a multi-city campaign for a Socially Responsible DTV Transition, coordinated with other members of the Media Action Grassroots Network and the Consumers Union. The campaign is asking electronics retailers to pledge to stock and sell at least one $40 DTV converter box; several models are available through online retailers at that price, matching the value of coupons distributed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). However, walk-in retailers have largely ignored calls to stock the boxes, instead offering only more expensive models ranging from $50-$200 in price. Late in January, Mayor Nickels and the entire City Council sent letters to local retailers, writing that the unavailability of $40 boxes "will cause an economic hardship for many lower-income households and individuals, including seniors and people with disabilities... In many cases, TV is a basic necessity, not a luxury—providing local news, weather and emergency broadcast information which nobody in our community should be without. We strongly encourage our local retailers to do the right thing in this matter." In the Seattle area, Fred Meyer stores have pledged to offer a $40 converter box option as a special promotion, on at least one occasion between now and June 12; company officials said that details will be advertised in local newspapers. To date, no other local retailers have taken the Socially Responsible Retailer pledge.

Reclaim the Media says that the costs associated with the transition—often including a new antenna as well as a converter box—could leave millions of US residents in the dark, including seniors, those with mobility issues, communities of color and low-income families. “The DTV transition should be more than business as usual,” says Jonathan Lawson, Reclaim the Media executive director. “Like it or not, local TV is still the primary news source for millions of Americans. Retailers participating in the government coupon program have a social responsibility to offer low-cost options for consumers who rely on TV for daily information.” Other local partners in the Socially Responsible DTV Transition campaign include the Youth Media Institute, the Leadership Academy, the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and the Seattle Housing Authority. The Media Action Grassroots Network is a national initiative linking media justice organizing hubs in eight regions: Seattle, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Albuquerque, New York, San Antonio, Philadelphia and Appalachia. Several Seattle groups are hosting Seattle DTV Assistance Centers, partnering with the national Leadership Conference on Civil Rights to provide DTV assistance to low-income residents, people of color, immigrants, seniors and people with disabilities. Drop-in centers are located at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), at the Leadership Academy (425 SW 144th St, Burien), and at rotating locations around Seattle. Volunteer telephone support is available at (206) 508-1277, or (206) 988-3760 for Spanish speakers. Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese language support is available from the National Asian Pacific Council on Aging, at (800) 336-2722. Seattle DTV Assistance Center information is on the web at www.seattledtv.com. PRESS ADVISORY: Press conference on Socially Responsible DTV Transition When: FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2:30 PM Where: Center Park Apartments, 2nd floor library, 2121 26th Ave S (MLK and S. Hill St), Seattle 98144. Parking is available in the main lot off of MLK, or in the lower lot on the corner of MLK and S. Walker St. What: DTV information table and demonstration (2-3pm); press conference (2:30) Who: City Councilmembers Richard Conlin and Bruce Harrell; representatives of Reclaim the Media, Youth Media Institute and other groups providing local DTV assistance, local FCC representative, local residents affected by the DTV transition Contact:

Tania Maria Rosario, 206.351.2070 Jonathan Lawson, 206.931.0565