FCC Receives 300,000 Calls After Switch

The switch to digital television from analog television took place on Friday. As expected, there were many television users around the United States who needed help to make the switch. In fact, the Federal Communications Commission says that they received more than 300,000 calls in the 24 hours following the switch. Originally, the FCC was predicting as many as 3,000,000 calls, so relatively speaking it was a quiet day. Michael J. Copps, who is the acting FCC chairman, emphasized how big of an undertaking this switch actually was for everyone involved. Said Copps: “We should not minimize the scope and scale of what we just went through. Twenty years ago, there was no such thing as digital television. Ten years ago, only a handful of stations were on the air with a digital signal and only a handful of early adopters had purchased digital sets—and most had to take out second mortgages in order to do it. Five years ago, no one knew when the DTV transition would end. And yet yesterday broadcasters, cable and satellite providers, consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers—and, most importantly, consumers—were by-and-large ready to turn off full-power analog signals for good.” All television stations have had their analog broadcasts turned off. If you are having any problems with the switch to digital television, the FCC urges you to call 1-888-CALL-FCC.

Cats need to make the digital transition as well (Image: Flickr)