
Doyle stated that the EchoStar boxes are not available in Massachusetts until the fall. He suggested that the seniors wait to purchase that box. EchoStar was heavily involved in the England conversion. Schlaver stated that the EchoStar converter box is the “premier box”. What are issues with the converter boxes for persons with disabilities? Mr. She commented that not all converter boxes are equal. Televisions will need to be recycled.Ĭouncillor Davis stated that people who do not have cable will need a new digital television or a converter box. Two coupons are being issued in the event that there are numerous televisions in households. Schlaver expressed concern that store clerks do not have answers to consumer questions. The net cost for the converter box with the coupon could be up to $19.99. EchoStar will sell the converter box for $39.99. Thus cable customers do not have to take action (FCC CONSUMER FACTS SHEET WERE DISTRIBUTED ATTACHMENTS B & C).

The FCC made a decision that if cable customers did not convert to digital the company still had to provide service to them. The converter box will not work with cable and another problem is that the coupons expire in 90 days. Publicity in the United States has been centered on the coupon and the converter box. Door-to-door participation was utilized as well as a large sum of money was spent on the digital conversion.

Educating the public about the conversion was a priority in England.
#Analog to digital converter box radio shack tv#
An information sheet entitled: Analog – Only TV Shutdown Consumer Advisory was distributed (ATTACHMENT A). Schlaver informed the committee that it was sad to say that the conversion to digital was not approached in the same way as Y2K.

There are elderly residents in the city who rely on their TV for companionship conversion will be a challenge to them. If people do not have a digital signal because they are connected to cable their TV will get snow. After Februfull-power TV stations will only broadcast in digital. She became aware of the issue at the National League of Cities Conference and the impending deadline of the conversion from analog to digital on February 17, 2009. Lopez, Deputy City Clerk and Penny Peters, Research Assistant to Councillor Davis.Īlso present were Brenda Doyle, Director of Administration, Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC), Catrice Williams, Department Secretary, DTC, Jason Whittet, Comcast, Susan Fleischmann, CCTV, Matt Quan, 181 Windsor Street, Sara Anthony, 11 Speare Place, Boston and Richard Bock, 120 Chestnut Street.Ĭouncillor Davis convened the meeting and explained the purpose. Healy, City Manager, Richard Rossi, Deputy City Manager, Lisa Peterson, Commissioner, Public Works, Jim Ardolino, Superintendent Solid Waste, Public Works, Paul Schlaver, Director, Cambridge Consumers’ Council, Michael Muehe, Executive Director, Cambridge Disabilities Commission, Emma Watkins, Director, Cambridge City-wide Senior Center, Susan Pacheco, Director of Client Services, Council on Aging Donna P. Present at the meeting were Councillor Henrietta Davis, Chair of the Committee, Robert W. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the conversion of TV signals from analog to digital. The Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee conducted a public meeting on Tuesday, Maat three o’clock and thirty-eight minutes PM in the Ackermann Room.
City Of Cambridge - CITY CLERK OFFICE, CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTSĬommunications and Reports from City OfficersĬABLE TV, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS
