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Rural
Groups Urge Congress to Consider Concerns of Rural Americans on Digital Television
Transition Plan
The Alliance for Rural Television
Expresses Need for Education, Subsidies and Multicasting WASHINGTON,
D.C., March 15, 2005 - The Alliance for Rural Television (ART) met with Members
of Congress today to discuss the digital television transition, and stressed that
the needs of rural Americans must be taken into consideration when discussing
the plan and timeline. Specifically,
ART noted to Members of Congress that a deadline of Dec. 31, 2006 for the transition
would hurt farmers and other rural citizens given that rural Americans depend
heavily on over-the-air television service for news, weather and reports on local
commodity markets. Additionally, rural Americans still lack basic information
about the digital television transition, and should first be informed about how
the transition might affect them so they can adequately prepare for the change.
"Rural Americans face real and substantial challenges with the digital television
transition and we are encouraging Members to consider these issues as they work
on the transition plan," said Larry Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, American
Corn Growers Association. "Many rural Americans cannot afford cable or satellite
services, or do not have access to these services in their isolated communities,
and therefore need more time to transition to digital television. It is up to
Congress to ensure that the Americans who current rely on over-the-air television
the most, such as farmers who use these services for weather and local commodity
reports, are informed and ready when the change begins." In
its meetings with Members of Congress, ART also expressed their interest in ensuring
that all the benefits of digital television, including multicasting, will be available
to rural Americans and other consumers as part of the transition plan. Additionally,
ART expressed its concern that many farm families will not be able to afford to
purchase the equipment that will be necessary to receive digital signals, and
urged Members of Congress to adopt a subsidy or other mechanism to ensure that
all Americans have access to digital television following the transition. The
Alliance for Rural Television (ART) is a coalition of national farm and rural
organizations working together to: educate members of Congress and the Federal
Communications Commission about the impact of the digital television transition
on America's farm families, and empower its constituents to participate fully
in the digital transition process to ensure they won't be left behind. Its members
include the American Corn Growers Association, the National Farmers Organization,
the National Farmers Union, the National Grange, the Soybean Producers of America
and Women Involved in Farm Economics.
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