"Last Word"-Get Ready For The Digital Switch
Wednesday, May 13, 2009SUSIE GHARIB: Thirty days and counting: the transition to digital television is almost here. On June 12, all full-power TV stations in the United States will begin broadcasting only in digital. The Federal Communications Commission says about 3.5 million U.S. households are still not ready. The transition was originally set for February, but was postponed by Congress. The FCC's acting Chairman Michael Copps says while the extra time helped, he still expects some disruptions.
MICHAEL COPPS, ACTING CHAIRMAN, FCC: We have done everything we can in three months to get ready. Realize, though, that the preceding three months or three years when I think we did not put the emphasis on really having the kind of closely coordinated, interagency, public sector-private sector partnerships. So what we're trying to do is run real hard to do in three months what we should have done in three years. Some things do fall through the cracks.
GHARIB: The commission will test the transition next Thursday, interrupting analog signals so viewers will know if their TV requires a special box.
