One Month Remains Before DTV Transition

With one month remaining before DTV transition, area DTV organizers seek DTV volunteers to help with local canvasses.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Thousands are still struggling with the switch to digital TV in Portland. Now, with the digital television transition just one month away, local organizations are ramping up efforts to help area families get DTV-ready.

While many affected households in Portland have taken action, there are still many hard-to-reach communities who are not yet prepared for the June 12 switch.

Two area organizations are operating DTV assistance centers to help residents prepare for the fast-approaching switch to digital:

* Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, or IRCO (503-445-1438) is providing assistance in multiple languages to immigrant and refugee communities.

* Urban League of Portland (503-280-2600) is providing assistance to African Americans and other North Portland communities. They provide technical support and hold training workshops during business hours, Monday-Friday.

In addition to several weekly DTV demonstrations and trainings, local organizers are going door-to-door, canvassing vulnerable neighborhoods with information about local DTV resources. Reporters interested in talking to local residents making the transition or community organizers should please call Maggie Kao at 202-466-2735.

* Applying for Coupons. The government has cleared the coupon program backlog and has accelerated coupon turnaround time. The typical time period between coupon request and coupon delivery is roughly nine days.

* Applications for Replacement Coupons. The government coupon program is now accepting applications from consumers whose coupons expired without being redeemed. People can reapply online at www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009. Deaf or hard-of-hearing callers may use 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).

* Local DTV Resources. Area residents can call the above listed assistance centers for local assistance applying or reapplying for a coupon and other technical support. Local resources are also available online at http://pdxdtv2009.synthasite.com

* Donating Unneeded, Unused Coupons. Area DTV Assistance Centers are collecting unneeded, unused coupons and distributing them to seniors and families in need. People can donate coupons to:

DTV Coupon Exchange Program – Portland
1220 SW Morrison Street, Suite 910
Portland, OR 97205

* Volunteer. Area DTV Assistance Centers have a variety of weekly activities–from phone banks to canvasses–going on between now and June 12. It’s easy for people to get involved. People can volunteer with local DTV outreach efforts by emailing portlanddtv2009@gmail.com.

LCCREF has teamed up with local organizations nationwide to provide trainings and DTV-related assistance to members of impacted populations in seven major cities: Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX; San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland CA; and Seattle-Tacoma, WA.