STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN
Re: DTV Consumer Education Initiative
My support for this item is bittersweet.  I’m disappointed that it has taken the
Commission nearly a year and a half since the February 17, 2009 deadline became law to
begin to take seriously its obligation to inform the American people about the impending 
DTV transition.  Nevertheless, I’m pleased that, after more than a little nudge from 
Chairman Dingell and Chairman Markey, this Commission is finally asking the right
questions about how we – the Commission, broadcasters, cable operators, consumer 
electronics retailer and manufacturers – can leverage our respective resources to deliver a 
coordinated message to the American people.
While we’ve lost a year and a half since the DTV transition deadline was enacted, 
we have about the same amount of time remaining to get our act together. For starters, 
that means creating a Federal DTV Transition Task Force with the National 
Telecommunication and Information Administration to leverage the existing resources of 
the entire federal government, and to develop a unified, coherent message among all 
levels of government.  Also, while this NPRM is necessary, the Commission should not 
wait for months until we issue an order before we begin to talk to the affected industries 
in a constructive manner.  The vast majority of the proposals discussed in today’s Notice 
could be accomplished if the Commission would simply confer with the affected 
industries. 
We simply cannot afford to waste any more time.