Media Democracy Fund Grantees Making a Difference in Digital TV Transition

Media Democracy Fund grantee the Main Street Project is among the many advocacy organizations working with underserved communities to navigate the Digital TV Transition (which was recently postponed by Congressional action from the original date of February 17 to June 12). 

Main Street Project is part of the Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net), also an MDF grantee, which is coordinating Digital TV outreach activities in many regions of the country. MAG-Net recently launched DTV for the People, an online resource to help foster a socially just Digital TV transition.

The Main Street Project's Program Director, Amalia Deloney, describes a recent community workshop in Minnesota:

"Today was one of those days when you just KNEW you were making a difference. We did a DTV 101 training at a local Social Service Agency - the Waite House. Once a month they have a produce give-away, which starts at noon. 

People start to line up at 8 am. The line goes out the door and down the street. 400+ people waiting for free vegtables, rice, etc. Mostly Latino, Black, Native American. And, waiting in MN is no joke. The air temp was 5F today and the windchill in the below zero range.

We did two trainings - one for English Speakers, one for Spanish speakers.  250+ folks jammed into a standing room only space to hear all about DTV.  The first question was 'raise your hand if you know about the Digital TV Transition.'  ONE hand went up. 

Second question: 'Raise your hand if you have cable, satellite, for your TV.'  NO hands go up. 

Third question: 'Raise your hand if you get reception with rabbit ears or an antenna on your house.' EVERY HAND WENT UP.  Out of 200+ people in the room, only one knew about the transition.

We filled out and FAX'd 200 applications on the spot."