“This is not just about whether people can watch their favorite reality show,” said Acting
FCC Chairman Michael Copps. “It’s about whether consumers have access to vital emergency alerts, weather, news and public affairs.” That is why the FCC is dispatching staffers to 72 markets considered to be at the highest risk for problems today. 220 stations terminated analog service prior to this date, and another 421 are joining them for a total of 641, or 36% of all full-power stations. The FCC reiterated its decision to assure that all markets have at least one one big four network affiliate in every market with a strong local news/info operation will have analog available, and that at least one other big four going all digital maintains an analog nightlight.
The list of all stations, including those terminating analog service, is here:
http://www.fcc.gov/021609AttachmentA.pdf
It is also available in an EXCL format at fcc.gov.
RBR/TVBR observation: Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps has had the Commission moving at warp speed during the week leading up to today in what may very well set a record for deftness in a bureaucratic environment famous for red tape and atrophy rather than speed and agility. Nonetheless, with availability of both digital to analog converter box coupons and units questionable, and with consumer purchasing power for either a box or a digital television receiver compromised by a flagging economy, today figures to be a challenging and chaotic. Suggestion to President Obama: We need an executive order equating a converter box receipt with a converter box coupon, which may be honored by the NTIA after the fact of purchase – NOW!
