WASHINGTON: ‘Digital Dynamo’ educates masses

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

She calls herself the “Digital Dynamo,” and Denice “DeeNice” Rhodes is “evangelizing” for millions of underserved Americans in her “relentless pursuit in taming the technology tiger.”

That’s just a sampling of her pithy public sayings. If the causes of the founder of the Urban Progressive Foundation and the Transition2DTV weren’t so imperative and immediate, you might mistake the outwardly effervescent Ms. Rhodes for one of those jolly, motivational speakers selling pabulum and pie-in-the-sky TV products.

But in private conversation, this self-made technology marketer and advocate for “those who cannot be heard,” becomes deadpan serious as she calmly and methodically explains why Congress must delay the switch to DTV for millions of Americans, who are elderly, low-income, disabled, rural and speak English as a second language.

These vulnerable viewers “will be left in the dark” come Feb. 17 when broadcasters shut off their analog television signals, not only because they may not be able to afford digital converter boxes, but also because they may not be able to find the assistance to properly install and operate the new technology.

“There are 17 million people who are not ready,” she said, noting that includes 6 million viewers without converter boxes and 11 million viewers who have only one television hooked to cable or satellite. “Awareness will not hook up a box and make sure it works.”

Ms. Rhodes asked : “Do you know the difference between a digital set-top box and a digital converter box?” Did you know the switch to DTV requires a remote control and an antenna, either rabbit ears or on a rooftop, for the television to work? “Who do you call to install it?” If you have cable or satellite TV, what do you do if the signal goes out and you don’t have a digital TV?

I had to admit my ignorance. Thus, Ms. Rhodes’ point was made about the possibility of the elderly and others falling prey to someone selling them expensive technology they don’t need and can’t afford out of fear they may lose their “3-Cs: contact, companionship and communication.”

Check out her blog for a tongue-and-cheek explanation of the “15 steps to help Grandma install a converter box.”

Ms. Rhodes was among consumer and civil rights advocates making media appearances yesterday to urge House members, who are expected to vote today on a bill that passed the Senate last week but failed in the lower chamber, to pass the legislation on its second vote. It will delay the switch for some stations to DTV for four months from Feb. 17 until June 12 to allow more viewers to obtain coupons to purchase and install what she said is complicated technology.

During a conference call yesterday, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said, “The delay is not a fix.”

However, the four-month delay would give Congress time to provide a better plan [presumably to distribute discount coupons] and to provide more funding [presumably through the economic-stimulus package] to make sure Americans get the equipment so they can continue to have television access especially during emergency situations.

Lest we forget, as Ms. Rhodes said, Americans have a civil right to access the public airwaves freely.

Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, also said that the delay will give the government a chance “to fix the flaws in the coupon program” and maybe come out with other low-cost options for those struggling in this market. He noted that the federal government ran out of money in early January, and there are still 3.2 million people on a waiting list to receive the certificates. An additional 14 million coupons expired.

Mr. Kelsey said many people have made money on the DTV switch, including the federal government - which made $20 billion selling analog outlets mainly to wireless companies.

Story Continues →