**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:**

June 4, 2008 Clyde Ensslin 202-418-0506

<clyde.ensslin@fcc.gov>

**FCC EXPANDS NATIONAL DIGITAL TELEVISION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN, TARGETS OUTREACH IN WILMINGTON, NC**

*Commission Dedicates Team of Experts to Wilmington, NC to Assist Public
and Launches Regional \-- First in Flight, First in Digital \-- Campaign
that includes New Public Service Announcements, Billboards and
Educational Materials in Partnership with Communities*

Washington, DC -- In a concerted effort to ensure that Americans have
the information they need to make a smooth transition to digital
television, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin
today announced that the Commission has expanded its national Digital
Television (DTV) Education and Awareness Campaign to include the release
of newly developed public service announcements (PSAs) that will be
distributed nationally to full-power television and radio stations.

More specifically, the FCC is providing more than 11,000 radio stations
across the country with public service announcements on the transition.
The 15, 30 and 60-second radio PSAs highlight important information for
consumers to adequately prepare for the transition. High quality audio
and MP3 versions of the PSAs are available for listening and downloading
at <http://www.dtv.gov/video_audio.html> .

Chairman Martin also announced billboards are slated to be placed in
approximately 45 of the nation\'s television markets announcing the
completion of the switch from analog to digital television on February
17, 2009. Billboards have already gone up in Philadelphia, Tampa, San
Francisco and Seattle. The billboards are expected to be placed on
highway signs, buses and subways in the nation\'s largest metropolitan
areas.

As part of the overall campaign, the Commission has dedicated a team of
experts to assist the five-county Wilmington, NC area with the digital
switch set for 12:00 noon on September 8, 2008. This will include the
release of specialized, First in Flight, First in Digital, PSAs and
billboards, as well as educational materials, to assist the Wilmington
television market with the transition.

The Wilmington television market will be the first market in the nation
to make the DTV transition. Beginning on September 8th Wilmington-area
stations WWAY (ABC), WSFX-TV (FOX), WECT (NBC), WILM-LP (CBS) and W51CW
(Trinity Broadcasting) will broadcast only digital signals to their
viewers in the Wilmington, North Carolina Designated Market Area (DMA),
which includes New Hanover, Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus and Pender
counties.

The Commission continues to coordinate and partner with Congress, the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), local
officials, community groups, broadcasters, cable and satellite
companies, manufacturers and retailers to accelerate and broaden
consumer education outreach efforts throughout the nation.

In addition to the new PSAs, billboards and educational materials, the
FCC\'s national DTV Education and Awareness Campaign includes:

-   Outreach specifically tailored to reach consumers who receive their
    television signals \"over-the-air\" via antennas; as well as those
    who are hard to reach and may be unaware of the upcoming transition,
    including senior citizens; non-English speaking and minority
    communities; people with disabilities; low-income individuals; and
    people living in rural and tribal areas.

-   The creation of advisories, fact sheets and other publications to
    inform consumers about a variety of important DTV issues that may
    impact them.

-   Participation in media events, conferences, town hall meetings,
    workshops, and other public events.

-   Grassroots community outreach in senior centers, libraries, retail
    stores and other public venues.

-   Coordination with a broad range of Federal, State, and Local
    entities and Community stakeholders, including, for example, the
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Indian
    Affairs, state DMVs and health departments, sports leagues, and the
    National Association of Broadcasters.

The DTV transition should not affect TV sets that are connected to a
cable or satellite service. However, viewers who watch free,
over-the-air television and receive signals with the help of rooftop
antennas or rabbit ears will require converter boxes to receive digital
signals on their existing analog sets. The FCC is encouraging these
Wilmington-area viewers to immediately order their coupons for
analog-to-digital converter boxes.

The converter box program is run by the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration. Each household can receive two free coupons
good towards the purchase of two converter boxes. The coupons take a
minimum of two weeks to be processed and mailed. For more information on
the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit
www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).

-FCC-

News and information about the Federal Communications Commission\
is available at [www.fcc.gov](http://www.fcc.gov/).