Experts Available to Discuss Switch from Analog to Digital TV.

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TOPIC: The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital after February 17, 2009. Digital television provides consumers with a clearer picture, more programming and frees up much needed spectrum for advanced wireless broadband services and interoperable communications among emergency first responders. The Act also authorizes the U.S. Commerce Department to create the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The Consumer Electronics Association says approximately 98 percent of Americans have an analog television in their home, according to an article by ABCNews.com. The Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters are launching campaigns to educate and prepare the public for the switch.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Barbara Roth, president of Paradise Production Company, is a Radio-TV-Film graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and is THX Home Theater certified. Ms. Roth is also a member of the Interior Design Society. For articles, please visit http://destinationhometheater.com/press.htm. For more information, visit: http://www.destinationhometheater.com.

512-327-7337

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Rob Enderle is a writer and analyst who regularly contributes his expertise to Digital Trends, covering stories about new technologies, trends and companies. Recently, he has written about HD DVD, the iPhone, Zune, the Xbox, gaming titles and related technology companies such as Google, YouTube, Apple, IBM and Microsoft. Enderle has been identified by the Kensington Group and Technology Marketing as one of the most influential technology analysts in the world.

408-272-8560

As director of ABI Research's Digital Home research practice, Michael Wolf oversees and coordinates the activities of an analyst team covering consumer electronics, digital media distribution and management, and home networking. A recognized thought leader within the industry, Mike brings a strong awareness of market trends as well as the business and research needs of our clients. He has long-standing acquaintances with most of the players in the value chain for home connectivity, from silicon to hardware to service provider; these give his research a depth and perspective that only comes with long familiarity with the field. Prior to joining ABI Research, Mike was Director and Principal Analyst, Enterprise and Consumer Networking at In-Stat, where he supervised the most successful service launch -- Residential Connectivity -- in the history of the company. He earned a BA in Finance from Seattle Pacific University and an MBA from Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management.

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516-624-2542

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Todd Sedmak, Communications Director for Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), US Department of Commerce, can discuss the digital television transition and the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. Commerce's NTIA is responsible for the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. Sedmak also can discuss efforts by government, industry and advocates to inform all U.S. households about the digital television transition and the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program.

Consumers receiving their programming "over the air" with an analog television will need to make one of three choices about how to watch TV after that date: (1) purchase a digital converter for their existing analog TV; (2) subscribe to and check with their cable or satellite providers; or (3) purchase a new television with a digital tuner.

All U.S. households may request up to two, $40 coupons to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes, starting January 1, 2008, by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

For more information about the digital transition and the Coupon Program, go to www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon.

202-482-7002

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