City of Philadelphia - File #: 070799

• File #: 070799
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 9/27/2007
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 9/27/2007
• Title: Honoring the Mayor's Commission on Technology and WHYY-TV for developing a community awareness plan for the analog to digital television technology transition.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Savage, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Clarke, Council President Verna, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Campbell, Councilmember Kelly

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
9/27/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
9/27/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
9/27/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Honoring the Mayor's Commission on Technology and WHYY-TV for developing a community awareness plan for the analog to digital television technology transition.
Body
WHEREAS, At midnight on February 17, 2009, all broadcast television services in this country will become 100% digital and to the uniformed TV viewer attempting to watch television (without cable or satellite transmission), it will appear as if all the TV channels have disappeared; and

WHEREAS, Television has become an essential component of the daily life of Americans for various forms of news and information and approximately 20 million people in the United States receive television services over the air and Philadelphia, as the 4th largest media market, clearly represents a large number of these viewers; and

WHEREAS, Industry and federal regulations and policies have been developed and implemented to "protect the public interest," the average TV consumer is not aware of this impending disruption of TV services and, of particular concern, is the negative effects on the vulnerable segments of our City that will be unprepared and disoriented with what appears to be the loss of access to essential information provided on television; and

WHEREAS, To receive digital TV service, the consumer must understand how to access the service and purchase either a digital television or a low-cost Digital TV converter box that will enable the obsolete analog TV to receive the digital channels and the converter boxes will retail for about $60 dollars and the federal government will offer the opportunity to apply for a rebate coupon to qualifying households to reduce the actual cost to $20 dollars; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor's Commission on Technology ("MCOT") has tracked this approaching technology change and is concerned about the public's interest and the potential impact on the City's well being and has partnered with WHYY-TV to develop a...