DTV: FCC Workshops Help First Coast Get Ready

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- On June 12, all full-power television stations will turn off their Analog signal and broadcast entirely a digital signal.

"People are going to wait until their screen goes black before doing anything," says Jerry Ulcek.

Ulcek is with the Federal Communication Commission and is conducting workshops to get First Coast viewers DTV ready.

"The June 12 deadline is set in a rock and that is not going to change," says Ulcek.

Janis Broad recently installed a converter box but said it isn't working.

Broad says, "I could not get a menu to come up on the TV, cause what I'm trying to do is dump cable."

Ulcek walked her through the proper installation. He said the FCC's message is simple.

"If you have an older TV that doesn't have a digital tuner in it and you're watching TV over the air, you need to get a converter box A.S.A.P." says Ulcek.

Converter boxes cost about $50. But the government is offering a $40 coupon to defray the costs of a box. At this workshop, Ulcek was assisting everyone in applying for a coupon.

"Even if you applied today you won't get one in time for the 12th; it takes ten days to process. Even so, you should apply," says Ulcek.

Before the workshop was over, Broad had found a solution to her problem.

"The process was easy to set up, now I'll try a coaxial cable and see what happens," says Broad.

And she was off the make the proper adjustments to her converter box.

The FCC is conducting similar workshops this week. Here is the schedule:

Wednesday 6/10 - 3:30-8:30pm, Bradham Brooks Library, 1755 Edgewood Avenue W., Jacksonville, FL 32208

Thursday 6/11 - 1:00-8:00pm, Main Library, 303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Friday 6/12 - 12:00-6:00pm, Webb Wesconnett Library, 6887 103rd Street, Jacksonville, FL 32210

Saturday 6/13 - 10:00am-4:30pm, Riverside Arts Market, Riverside Avenue underneath the Fuller Warren Bridge

Sunday 6/14 - 2:00-5:00pm, Main Library, 303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Monday 6/15 - 12:00-7:00pm, Regency Square Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225

Also, two of its support partners, the Best Buy Stores on Atlantic Blvd. and Southside Blvd., have a tech center staffed by an FCC representative. That person can help with installation and also with an application for a coupon.

You can also call 1-888-CALL- FCC (1-888-225-5322) for help.

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