Organizing for America | Transition to Digital Television Impact On Underserved Americans: Why is the Urban Progressive Foundation so Passionate About Helping Seniors re: Transition to Digital Television ?

Post from Transition to Digital Television Impact On Underserved Americans:

Why is the Urban Progressive Foundation so Passionate About Helping Seniors re: Transition to Digital Television ?

By DeeNice, The Digital Dynamo - Dec 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm EST

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Tags: deenice, digital converter box, disable, DTV, grassroots, minorities, Rural, Seniors, the digital dynamo, transition to digital television

Six months ago, it became clear that there was a Digital Disaster on the Horizon with the Transition to Digital Television Impact on Seniors, Minorities, Disable and Rural. Millions could be left in the dark Feb. 17 2009 is action to connect their boxes does not happen now.

With no funding, but a passion to be part of the solution, my non-profit The Urban Progressive Foundation (a 501(c) 3 project of CDP) began a journey going to various senior buildings, underserved organizations and individuals to help them obtain their $40 coupons and then come back to connect the digital converter boxes free of charge. I saw it as a moral responsibility to get involved.

Even though DTV awareness is critical before citizens can make an informed and deliberate move to become "digital". The fact that having to do something "techie" makes people "freeze".

For 11 years our non-profit has Engaged, Excited and Empowered urbanites and underserved individuals in technology. Technology should not control you; You are empowered to control technology. So when it was clear that the DTV technology applications and trouble-shooting processes would cause great despair to those without a voice. How could we not get involved?

I contacted a company called WINEGARD, who carries the digital converter boxes. Spoke with the National Sales Manager, Grant Whipple, persisted and was successful in having Winegard to lower the price of their digital converter boxes for the underserved constituents we were serving. So with the $40 government coupon, they would only have to pay $8 (includes tax, bulk shipping and everything).

Now we are into December 08, Time is not on our side. As a friend of mine stated “Technology without compassion is another form of oppressing those without a voice." I will continue to do the best I can - but of the 35 million Americans impacted by the DTV transition a disproportionate number are the elderly, disable, rural and minorities. I just wish I could do more.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

WRITE - CALL - EMAIL TO CONGRESS TO PUSH THE DATE BACK SEVERAL MONTHS FROM FEB. 17, 2009.

DeeNice, the Digital Dynamo In the relentless Pursuit in Taming The Technology Tiger
www.thedigitaldynamo.com
www.transition2dtv.org

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