FCC Commissioners and e-Waste Expert Address Funders (NCMR 2008)

On June 7, 2008, the GFEM Funder Delegation to the National Conference for Media Reform heard presentations from and addressed their questions to Ted Smith, Chair of the Steering Committee for the Electronics TakeBack Coalition and Federal Communications Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein.

Smith is leading the TakeBack Coalition in efforts to change public policy and practices around the environmental impacts of the upcoming Digital TV Transition. The "Take Back My TV Campaign" is an initiative to stem what's been called "the looming e-waste tsunami" that will occur next year when millions of TVs in the United States will become obsolete, due to an FCC rule requiring all TV signals to switch to digital on February 17, 2009.

Copps and Adelstein have distinguished themselves as particularly strong advocates for media diversity and localism and have worked diligently to encourage policies that make use of the public's airwaves to support a well-informed citizenry. The Commissioners have worked with their colleagues to increase public participation in the FCC's rulemaking processes and to promote access to telecommunications and media outlets by minorities, rural and low-income consumers, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers. Their presentations focused on current challenges, as well as the prospects for policy change under a new Presidential administration.

Listen to Smith, Copps and Adelstein here:

Click here to view the video shown by Ted Smith: http://youtube.com/watch?v=et7U6cx9aOU

Other e-waste links:

http://www.danwatch.dk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=1

http://ban.org/

http://takebackmytv.com/page/speakout/TakeBackMyTV

http://www.computertakeback.com/

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Ted Smith's Presentation.ppt3.45 MB