The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding a hearing on the digital television (DTV) transition in Brooklyn on Friday. People's Production House will be testifying at the hearing about the impact the federally mandated switch from analog television broadcasts to digital will have on New Yorkers who rely on over-the-air broadcasts for TV.
As I wrote in an article in February, "Counting Down to the Great Television Turnover," the DTV transition has the potential to disrupt access to free television for the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who get free television over the airwaves.
In our written testimony, we will also be pressing for the public to get greater benefit from the transition, especially through unlicensed access to open channels, the unused portions of the airwaves sometimes called "white spaces." Public access to this part of the airwaves could free us from the high prices and restrictive uses of cellular phones.
The hearing will be held on Friday, July 18, 20078 at 10:30am, at the Brooklyn Sports Club, 1540 Van Sielen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11239. The witness list is closed, but if you are interested in participating, please contact People's Production House.