McCaskill Asks Senior Centers to Help in Transition to Digital TV
Press Release
McCaskill Asks Senior Centers to Help in Transition to Digital TV
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today sent a letter to over 200 senior centers around the state of Missouri in an effort to get them involved in informing seniors about the upcoming transition to digital television. In less than a year on February 17, 2009, analog televisions not connected to cable, satellite, or a digital converter box will go dark, and unfortunately, seniors will be disproportionately affected by the transition.
"I'm asking senior centers to get involved as we quickly approach the switch to digital TV," McCaskill said. "We need to reach out to as many Missourians as possible, starting with those most likely to be affected by the transition, and that includes older Americans."
Older Americans, who rely more heavily on traditional analog televisions than other segments of the population, depend on television programming to provide them with important information, including weather alerts, emergency information, and breaking news. Without taking action in advance of the upcoming digital transition, McCaskill says she is concerned that over 400,000 Missouri households will wake up to dark TVs on February 17, 2009.
But the government can help, McCaskill says in her letter. The federal government is sponsoring a coupon program that will provide two $40 vouchers to help Americans purchase converter boxes for their analog television sets, which range in price between $40 and $60. Consumers must request their coupons, and already over 20 percent of coupons available for distribution have been distributed. Forms to order the coupons were enclosed in the letter McCaskill sent to senior centers.
Also enclosed in McCaskill's letter is an information sheet explaining the transition from analog to digital TV signals, include the government's toll free number where people can get answers to their questions.
"We must take action now to make sure that no senior is caught without the vital information that television provides them with on daily basis," McCaskill said.
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