Dave,

It makes some good sense and some potentially good relations for amateur radio within the various communities.

If the potential liability can be minimized, I think amateur radio clubs would certainly want to help out.

- Bill N3LLR

From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:21 PM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:17356] Community relations opportunity for clubs

It has been mentioned a couple of times on ODV that the FCC is devoting resources to the digital television transition, almost to the exclusion of everything else. There is a great deal of concern that despite the enormous publicity being given to the fact the analog television is going to disappear on February 17, there are going to be hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who don’t know what to do to avoid staring at blank screens on that day.

The FCC is aware that radio amateurs represent a significant pool of technical expertise and would like to tap into it. The Commission has asked us to help them identify local radio clubs that would be willing to educate consumers on how to install a converter box and how to set it up, and possibly to provide technical advice by telephone to consumers who may encounter difficulty with the installation and setting up of their converter box. Amateurs would NOT be asked to go to people’s homes and physically assist with installations.

The ARRL Public Relations Committee is enthusiastic about this as an opportunity for local radio clubs to build positive visibility in their communities. Coincidentally, PRC Chairman Bill Morine, N2COP is in Wilmington, NC, which was the site of the first pilot transition in September.

We are putting together a request to Section Managers to help identify clubs willing and able to assist.

Dave K1ZZ