I work in the high-end electronic home entertainment equipment industry doing solution-selling, in-home consultation and design. In total, I've worked at various levels of the media and entertainment production industry for more than thirty years.

It saddens and frustrates me to have to report that immediately after the approaching deadline of February 17, 2009; millions of households will be cut off from the rest of the nation as their analog TV sets go permanently blank. Following that date, the public outcry will become deafening, as people realize they will need a digital converter box to make their TVs work. February 17, 2009 is when Federal law requires broadcasters to send only digital signals in order to free up electromagnetic spectrum for use by other interests.

What ever happened to "The Airwaves Belong to the People" is the question they will ask. As many as 22 million Americans depend on free over the air Television and radio, particularly the elderly, the poor, and the geographically isolated. The coming conversion to all pay TV will mean millions of America's most vulnerable households will be cut off permanently from national news, information and entertainment. Consumers are wholly uninformed and unprepared for the impending changeover to Digital TV. No one is doing anything to ensure the most vulnerable among us will remain a part of the new digital nation; not government not industry.

Your interest in this matter would be appreciated. Your voice, raised in concern, along with that of elected officials could make a difference. In closing, it is important to know there are some of us in the entertainment industries determined not to leave anyone behind in the transition to the digital TV age. We want to alert our elected officials to a storm of opposition and public displeasure coming; the day after Federal law requires broadcasters to shut off over-the-air signals in order to free up electromagnetic spectrum for use by other interests.

I would like to request a response from you something I can share with others when asked what's going to happen after February 17, 2009.

Sincerely,
Tommie Butler

Email: totadigi@gmail.com