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CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN STATEMENT 
Wilmington, North Carolina 
Early Transition to Digital 
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut Street
Historic Downtown
Monday, September 8, 2008 
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good morning everyone and thank you for being here on this historic day.  At 12 noon 
today, Wilmington will lead the country in the transition from analog to digital television.  
This switch is the biggest change in television since it went from black-and-white to color 
in the 1950s.  
And the switch to digital TV is going to be even more exciting.  Viewers here in 
Wilmington are going to be the first ones in the country to take full advantage of the 
benefits of digital TV 
- Clearer richer pictures;
- High definition DVD-like quality
- Better sound
-And more free channels
The DTV transition for the rest of the country will not take place until February 17, 2009.  
That is when the rest of the television stations must turn off their analog signals and 
broadcast only in digital.  But the first step towards that transition is going to be taken 
right here in Wilmington today.
It is an exciting day for Wilmington, but one that would not have been possible without 
the help of so many people that are here today.
First, let me start by thanking Commissioner Copps, for challenging me and the industry 
to find a community that would be willing to help the rest of the country lead this 
transition.  Commissioner Copps deserves a lot of credit for today --- urging the 
Commission to engage in real-world experience that would help ready the broadcasters, 
viewers and us for the upcoming transition.  While we do not always agree on every 
issue, Commissioner Copps thoughtfulness and dedication serve the Commission very 
well.
Next, let me thank the community of Wilmington.  You know Mayor Saffo, when I first 
raised this possibility with you and the broadcasters, many of you were hesitant and 
raised legitimate concerns:
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How will we inform our viewers about a different date?
Wont our community be at a disadvantage since many of the education efforts 
will be taking place after the transition?
What if a hurricane hits?
Why do we have to do this at all?
You didnt have to do it.  But once you all were in, you fully embraced the challenge.  
Your willingness to volunteer for the transition -- and ultimately your dedication to 
making it a success  was astounding.
The Wilmington broadcasters, with Paul McTear, Dean Hinson and Jim Goodmans 
support from the very first announcement, have led the way.  
Here on the ground, Andy Combs of WWAY (ABC), Tom Postema of WSFX-TV 
(FOX), Gary McNair of WECT (NBC), Connie Knox of WILM-LP (CBS) and W51CW 
(Trinity Broadcasting),all stepped up to the challenges of premiering the nations DTV 
transition. I commend the Wilmington broadcasters for their pioneer spirit to go first to 
help the entire country prepare for the final transition to digital.  This experience has and 
will continue to help us identify issues that we need to address elsewhere in the country 
before next February.  
Mayor Saffo, let me thank you and the entire community that you represent.  You have 
personally provided such great support and leadership in this effort.  We would not be 
here today without your commitment and dedication to the Wilmington community.  
One of the invaluable lessons that we have learned from here in Wilmington is that DTV 
outreach success depends on the commitment of local community.  Including local 
industry, governmental and nongovernmental organizations.  Community stakeholders 
must take a leadership role for such large-scale messaging to take effect, which is why I 
am so impressed with the Wilmington-area effort.
The Commission has tried to help.  Since we made the announcement on May 8, that 
Wilmington, North Carolina would be the first market in the country to make the 
transition to digital television (DTV) we have tried to work closely with many of you 
here to help get the word out.  .
 We have had FCC staff here on the ground in every county to help educate 
consumers about this early transition.  
 We have attended over 400 outreach events, including Town Hall meetings, 
presentations, exhibits at local events, ask the FCC Sessions, and train the trainer 
sessions.
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 We have distributed over 85,000 publications.
 Partnerships have been formed with over 100 organizations.
 Four billboards were put up in high traffic areas throughout the town.
 The US Post Office displayed Wilmington specific DTV transition posters in all 
the post offices throughout the area and
 We provided the local radio and TV stations with PSAs.
And we all have made good progress.  Notably, a recent survey conducted by NAB found 
that 97% of Wilmington residents were aware that broadcasters in Wilmington were 
transitioning to digital.  And according to NTIA, today more than 36,000 Wilmington 
households have requested 67,000 coupons, and have redeemed 25,000 so far.  And more 
than 17,000 of those homes rely on televisions with antennas.
Ultimately this test in Wilmington has been about gaining a better understanding about 
two things.  (1) what the implications are from a technical perspective on the broadcasters 
in making this transition and (2) what consumer outreach efforts are the most effective in 
making sure consumers are taking the right steps to be prepared. 
I have been asked by many how the FCC will measure the success of what happens here 
in Wilmington.  
Now and next February, a successful digital transition depends upon minimizing the 
burdens placed on consumers and maximizing their ability to benefit from it. 
While we are hopeful that the transition today is going to be as smooth as possible, the 
success of Wilmington is not what happens at 12 noon today when we flip the switch.  
The measure of success in Wilmington is what is going to happen next February, and 
what we are able to learn from what occurs in Wilmington so we can take those lessons 
and move this process through the entire country.  
And I can already say we have been able to learn some important lessons that will affect 
how we proceed through the rest of the country.
First, the FCC learned how important it is to work with grassroots organizations, like 
local fire and police departments and churches to assist us in reaching hard to reach 
groups like seniors.  To that end, in Wilmington the FCC has engaged one or two of these 
groups in each county to assist individuals through the installation and/or coupon 
application process. These are the community leaders that we will strive to cultivate in 
other areas throughout the country.
Second, the FCC learned the importance of emergency preparedness during hurricanes.  
At the time we began outreach in Wilmington four months ago there were no battery 
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operated converter boxes available.  So the broadcasters and some folks down in 
Wilmington were able to work with one converter box manufacturer, Winegard, who 
recently introduced a DTV converter box battery pack specifically designed to allow its 
converter boxes to work in power outages.   
Finally, we learned that the use of soft tests or temporary turnoffs of analog signals to 
determine whether consumers are ready for the transition can be useful if the test is for a 
longer period of time.  In Wilmington, the broadcasters conducted a one minute and 5 
minute test, and determined that the longer test was necessary for consumers to write 
down the phone number and information listed on the screen and (b) check all the 
televisions in their home to see if they are prepared.
 
Because we have been able to learn these lessons, regardless of what happens today, this 
test in Wilmington has been a success.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not thank a few other folks that have been so 
instrumental.  
We also appreciate the work of Consumer Electronics Association and CERC, as well as 
local retailers, Radio Shack, Circuit City, Best Buy, Sears, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart for 
making sure that their stores were stocked with converters boxes.
Meredith Baker, NTIA Acting Administrator, who expedited the processing of 
Wilmington coupon applications and gave us weekly updates on how the coupon 
converter box program was going here.
The pay TV operators including cable operators Time Warner, Atlantic Telephone, 
Falcon Cable, and Starvision and Dish Network and DIRECTV for their participation. 
And last but not least, our FCC staff, led by Louis Sigalos, and including Maureen 
McCarthy, Jessica Przybyla, Jill Pender, Lauren Kravetz, Dan Rumelt, Yvette Barrett, 
and Beau Finley.  The FCC teams constant presence in the five counties was invaluable 
in many ways.  The FCC Wilmington team on-the-grounds presence at numerous events 
and awareness sessions, from coupon sign-ups at churches and l libraries to booths at the 
local farmers markets was invaluable.  
The FCC is committed to ensuring that no American in Wilmington, North Carolina is 
left in the dark. I trust that other parts of the nation will look to this market as an 
example.  Each of us here today wants to be sure that the American public continues to 
receive programming today in Wilmington and for the rest of the country on February 17, 
2009.  The next 5 months will undoubtedly be challenging.  Nevertheless, it is my hope 
that through the combined efforts of government, industry and grassroots organizations, 
American consumers will reap the rewards that the digital transition has to offer.