Join the DTV Voluntary Commitment
We write today requesting your immediate attention to the important "quiet period" issue. Some in Washington are trying to use the digital television (DTV) transition as an excuse to take away your right to control the use of your TV signal from October 2008 through the end of May 2009. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are listening to those arguments. We need your help and ask that you make a voluntary commitment to protect your rights from unreasonable regulatory or legislative action. The resolution we are asking you to support has been approved by the NAB Television Board of Directors and all four network affiliate boards; additionally, hundreds of stations have committed their support as well. The resolution is as follows:
Resolution: The National Association of Broadcasters and local TV stations are committed to the success of the digital television transition. In furtherance of that goal and to minimize any potential for consumer confusion during the DTV transition, NAB's Television Board of Directors and their member companies hereby commit, on a voluntary basis, to continue to make available to all their distribution partners those broadcast signals being provided as of February 4, 2009; for a period of time beginning on February 4, 2009 through March 4, 2009 - a full two weeks prior to and after the DTV transition date of February 17, 2009. In addition, the TV board will make every effort to secure the same voluntary commitment from the television broadcast industry, including NAB's television members, the networks and the network affiliate associations.
Please consider joining this voluntary effort. To pledge your support, please send an email to legal@nab.org with your response to the following questions:
1. Do you support this resolution?___ yes ___ no
2. If yes, may we publicly list your company as a supporter? ___yes ___no
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us or Marcellus Alexander, NAB's executive vice president of Television at (202) 429-5365.
Time is of the essence. Thank you for your quick action and your support to help make the DTV transition as seamless as possible for our viewers.
Sincerely,
Raymond H. Cole
ABC Affiliate Board Chair
Scott Blumenthal
CBS Affiliate Board Chair
Brian Jones
FOX Affiliate Board Chair
Michael J. Fiorile
NBC Affiliate Board President/Chairman
K. James Yager
NAB Television Board Chair
