In response to requests from our radio members, NAB recently released three radio spots encouraging listeners to start preparing now for the February 2009 national transition to digital television (DTV). Along with live-read scripts, the spots are available in 15-, 30- and 60-second versions in both English and Spanish. Stations can download the spots and scripts at www.dtvanswers.com/radiospots.

On June 4, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that radio public service announcements (PSA) would be part of its broader DTV awareness campaign. The agency's radio PSAs are designed to help educate viewers about the nationwide switch, as well as promote the early DTV transition experiment in Wilmington, N.C., on September 8, 2008. Multiple versions of the PSAs are available for download on the FCC's Wilmington-focused Web site at: www.dtv.gov/wilmington/video_audio.html.

Using the radio airwaves to alert Americans has significantly enhanced NAB's outreach to populations most disproportionately affected by the transition, such as minorities, low-income households, seniors and those living in rural areas.